William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States.

Born in Virginia, Harrison initially studied medicine but after money for his schooling dried up, he joined the young U.S. Army in the 1790s. In 1799, he was elected to his first political office, as a delegate representing the Northwest Territory in Congress, and in 1800, at the age of 27, became the Governor of the vast Territory. In the War of 1812, Harrison became a General, and became a venerated war hero for his defeat of the Shawnee warrior Tecumseh. After the war, Harrison served as U.S. Senator for Ohio.

In 1836, Harrison ran as the Whig candidate for President, but lost to Andrew Jackson's Vice-President, Martin van Buren. After an economic downturn plunged the United States into a deep depression, Harrison ran again in 1840 and won the election in a landslide. On March 4, 1841, Harrison delivered the longest inaugural speech in Presidential history, on a cold and wet late winter day. A month later, on April 4th, Harrison died of pneumonia, completing the shortest Presidency in United States history.

• 1773: Born February 9th in Charles City County, Virginia

• 1791: Leaves medical school for the military after the death of his father

• 1795: Marries Anna Symmes

• 1798-1801: Serves as Secretary of the Northwest Territory

• 1801-12: Serves as Territorial Governor of Indiana

• 1811: Defeats Indians at Tippecanoe River

• 1816-19: Serves as U.S. Congressman from Ohio

• 1819-21: Serves as Ohio State Senator

• 1825-28: Serves as U.S. Senator

• 1836: Loses first presidential bid to Martin Van Buren

• 1840: Beats Van Buren to become the ninth U.S. President

• 1841: Dies one month after inauguration (shortest presidential term in history)