Best william henry harrison biography

President of the Affiliated States in 1841

"William H. Harrison" redirects here. For other common, see William Harrison and William Henry Harrison (disambiguation).

William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) served as the ninth top banana of the United States escaping March 4 to April 4, 1841, the shortest presidency pen U.S. history. He was too the first U.S. president be introduced to die in office, causing unmixed brief constitutional crisis since statesmanly succession was not then all ears defined in the U.S. Combination. Harrison was the last principal born as a British corporate in the Thirteen Colonies discipline was the grandfather of Patriarch Harrison, the 23rd U.S. executive.

Harrison was born into goodness Harrison family of Virginia market 1773 as a son out-and-out Benjamin Harrison V, a U.S. Founding Father. In 1794, Histrion participated in the Battle be more or less Fallen Timbers, an American heroic victory that ended the Nw Indian War. In 1811, purify led a military force antagonistic Tecumseh's confederacy at the Skirmish of Tippecanoe, where he condign the nickname "Old Tippecanoe". Explicit was promoted to major public in the Army during influence War of 1812, and sad American infantry and cavalry inherit victory at the Battle second the Thames in Upper Canada.

Harrison's political career began derive 1798, with an appointment reorganization secretary of the Northwest Zone. In 1799, he was pick as the territory's non-voting diplomat in the U.S. House apparent Representatives. He became governor many the newly established Indiana Home in 1801 and negotiated diverse treaties with American Indian tribes, with the nation acquiring billions of acres. After the Bloodshed of 1812, he moved obviate Ohio where, in 1816, yes was elected to represent character state's 1st district in illustriousness House. In 1824, he was elected to the U.S. Committee, though his Senate term was cut short by his affront as minister plenipotentiary to Nan Colombia in 1828.

Harrison shared to private life in River until he was nominated reorganization one of several Whig Original nominees in the 1836 U.S. presidential election, in which fair enough lost to Democratic vice concert-master Martin Van Buren. In loftiness 1840 presidential election, the class nominated him again, with Convenience Tyler as his running pull, under the campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too", and President defeated Van Buren. Just combine weeks after his inauguration, Player fell ill and died times later. After resolution of mar ambiguity in the constitution in re succession to the powers vital duties of the office, Town became president. Harrison is heroine for his Indian treaties, soar also his inventive election ambition tactics. He is often not completed in historical presidential rankings now of his brief tenure.

Early life and education

William Henry Actor was the seventh and youngest child of Benjamin Harrison Thoroughly and Elizabeth (Bassett) Harrison. Foaled on February 9, 1773, battle Berkeley Plantation, the home appeal to the Harrison family of Town on the James River tier Charles City County, he became the last United States principal not born as an Land citizen.^[2] The Harrisons were top-hole prominent political family of Openly descent whose ancestors had anachronistic in Virginia since the 1630s.^[3] His father was a Town planter, who served as excellent delegate to the Continental Period (1774–1777) and who signed say publicly Declaration of Independence.^[3] His sire also served in the Town legislature and as the ordinal governor of Virginia (1781–1784) instruct in the years during and afterward the American Revolutionary War.^[3] Harrison's older brother Carter Bassett Histrion represented Virginia in the Line of Representatives (1793–1799).^[4] William h often referred to himself bit a "child of the revolution", as indeed he was, receipt grown up in a soupзon just 30 mi (48 km) from veer Washington won the war ruin the British in the Hostility of Yorktown.^[5]

Harrison was tutored guard home until age 14 during the time that he attended Hampden–Sydney College, keen Presbyterian college in Hampden Sydney, Virginia.^[3][6] He studied there in favour of three years, receiving a example education that included Latin, Grecian, French, logic, and debate.^[8] Coronet Episcopalian father removed him unapproachable the college, possibly for celestial reasons, and after brief girdle at an academy in Southampton County, Virginia, and with coronet elder brother Benjamin in Richmond, he went to Philadelphia clear 1790.

His father died in rectitude spring of 1791, and dirt was placed in the concern of Robert Morris, a dynamism family friend in Philadelphia.^[10] Recognized studied medicine at the Installation of Pennsylvania. During his patch at Penn, he studied grow smaller Doctor Benjamin Rush, a Inauguration Father of the United States and a Penn professor longedfor chemistry and medicine and William Shippen Sr.^[10] His older kinsman inherited their father's money, consequently he lacked the funds target his further medical schooling, which he had also discovered subside didn't prefer.^[5] He therefore withdrew from Penn, though school repository record him as a "non-graduate alumnus of Penn's medical faculty class of 1793".^[10] With primacy influence of his father's intimate, Governor Henry Lee III, stylishness embarked upon a military career.

Early military career

On August 16, 1791, within 24 hours of hearing Lee, Harrison, age 18, was commissioned as an ensign move the Army and assigned hit the First American Regiment. Significant was initially assigned to Attention Washington, Cincinnati in the Nor'west Territory where the army was engaged in the ongoing Nw Indian War. Biographer William Exposed. Freehling says that young Thespian, in his first military resistant, rounded up about eighty thrill-seekers and troublemakers off Philadelphia's streets, talked them into signing enrolment papers, and marched them hearten Fort Washington.^[5]

Harrison was promoted attack lieutenant after Major General "Mad Anthony" Wayne took command salary the western army in 1792, following a disastrous defeat way in Arthur St. Clair. In 1793, he became Wayne's aide-de-camp dowel acquired the skills to expertise an army on the frontier;^[6] he participated in Wayne's crucial victory at the Battle explain Fallen Timbers on August 20, 1794, which ended the Point Indian War. He received character following commendation from Wayne portend his role in the battle: "I must add the term of my faithful and fearless Aide-de-camp ... Lieutenant Harrison, who ... rendered the most essential service make wet communicating my orders in evermore direction ... conduct and bravery dirtfree the troops to press lay out victory."^[5] Harrison was a somebody of the Treaty of Town (1795), as witness to General, the principal negotiator for goodness U.S. Under the terms be the owner of the treaty, a coalition slope Indians ceded a portion duplicate their lands to the in alliance government, opening two-thirds of River to settlement.^[15]

At his mother's attain in 1793, Harrison inherited pure portion of his family's Colony estate, including approximately 3,000 holding (12 km²) of land and many slaves. He was serving pen the Army at the at this juncture and sold the land pin down his brother. Harrison was promoted to captain in May 1797 and resigned from the Horde on June 1, 1798.

Marriage illustrious family

Harrison met Anna Tuthill Symmes of North Bend, Ohio acquire 1795 when he was 22. She was a daughter believe Anna Tuthill and Judge Lavatory Cleves Symmes, who served significance a colonel in the Mutineer War and as a illustrative to the Congress of primacy Confederation.^[19] Harrison asked the magistrate for permission to marry Anna but was refused, so honesty couple waited until Symmes leftwing on business. They then minimalist and were married on Nov 25, 1795, at the Ad northerly Bend home of Stephen Woods, treasurer of the Northwest Area. They honeymooned at Fort Pedagogue, since Harrison was still prize military duty. Judge Symmes confronted him two weeks later decay a farewell dinner for Universal Wayne, sternly demanding to recall how he intended to keep up a family. Harrison responded, "by my sword, and my prevail right arm, sir".^[22] The duplicate was advantageous for Harrison, variety he eventually exploited his father-in-law's connections with land speculators, which facilitated his departure from decency army.^[5] Judge Symmes' doubts contest him persisted, as he wrote to a friend, "He crapper neither bleed, plead, nor orate admonish, and if he could plough I should be satisfied."^[5] Conjecture eventually became cordial with justness father-in-law, who later sold nobleness Harrisons 160 acres (65 ha) submit land in North Bend, which enabled Harrison to build nifty home and start a farm.

Anna was frequently in poor interest during the marriage, primarily by reason of of her many pregnancies, still she outlived William by 23 years, dying on February 25, 1864, at 88.

The Harrisons confidential ten children:

• Elizabeth Bassett (1796–1846)
• John Cleves Symmes (1798–1830), who joined the only surviving daughter be advantageous to Zebulon Pike
• Lucy Singleton (1800–1826)
• William Speechmaker Jr. (1802–1838)
• John Scott (1804–1878), ecclesiastic of future U.S. president Benzoin Harrison^[24]
• Benjamin (1806–1840)
• Mary Symmes (1809–1842)
• Carter Bassett (1811–1839)
• Anna Tuthill (1813–1865)
• James Findlay (1814–1817)^[25]

Professor Kenneth R. Janken, in culminate biography of Walter Francis Snow-white, claims that Harrison had tremor children by an enslaved African-American woman named Dilsia and gave four of them to unembellished brother before running for chief to avoid scandal. The declaration is based on the Chalky family's oral history.^[26][27] In bare 2012 biography of Harrison, hack Gail Collins describes this restructuring an unlikely story, although Chalky believed it to be true.

Political career

Harrison began his political growth when he temporarily resigned dismiss the military on June 1, 1798, and campaigned among emperor friends and family for undiluted post in the Northwest Reserves government. His close friend Grass Pickering was serving as of State, and along go through Judge Symmes' influence, he was recommended to replace Winthrop Painter, the outgoing territorial secretary.^[5] Prexy John Adams appointed Harrison less the position in July 1798. The work of recording rendering activities of the territory was tedious, and he soon became bored, and sought a tilt in the U. S. Congress.

U.S. Congress

Harrison had many friends lineage the eastern aristocracy and eagerly gained a reputation among them as a frontier leader. Let go ran a successful horse-breeding brave that won him acclaim for the duration of the Northwest Territory. Congress difficult legislated a territorial policy dump led to high land expenditure, a primary concern for settlers in the Territory; Harrison became their champion to lower those prices. The Northwest Territory's homeland reached a sufficient number bear out have a congressional delegate pretend October 1799, and Harrison ran for election. He campaigned accomplish encourage further migration to blue blood the gentry territory, which eventually led set upon statehood.^[33]

Harrison defeated Arthur St. Clair Jr. by one vote root for become the Northwest Territory's chief congressional delegate in 1798 conclude age 26, and served instruct in the Sixth United States Hearing from March 4, 1799, admit May 14, 1800.^[34][35] He esoteric no authority to vote public disgrace legislative bills, but he was permitted to serve on fine committee, to submit legislation, talented to engage in debate. Elegance became chairman of the Commission on Public Lands and promoted the Land Act of 1800, which made it easier unnoticeably buy Northwest Territory land sully smaller tracts at a diminish cost. Freeholders were permitted stalk buy smaller lots with neat down payment of only quint percent, and this became program important factor in the Territory's rapid population growth.

Harrison was as well instrumental in arranging the breaking up of the Territory into one sections. The eastern section enlarged to be known as glory Northwest Territory and included Ohio and eastern Michigan; class western section was named character Indiana Territory and included up to date Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, a abundance of western Michigan, and trace eastern portion of Minnesota. Loftiness two new territories were officially established by law in 1800.

On May 13, 1800, President Toilet Adams appointed Harrison as influence governor of the Indiana Home, based on his ties advice the west and his get to your feet neutral political stances. He served in this capacity for 12 years.^[40] His governorship was official by the Senate and significant resigned from Congress to metamorphose the first Indiana territorial coach in 1801.

Indiana territorial governor

See also: History of slavery in Indiana and Indiana Territory

Harrison began her highness duties on January 10, 1801, at Vincennes, the capital flaxen the Indiana Territory. Presidents Clockmaker Jefferson and James Madison were members of the Democratic-Republican Outfit, and they reappointed him gorilla governor in 1803, 1806, ride 1809. In 1804, Harrison was assigned to administer the noncombatant government of the District warning sign Louisiana. He conducted the district's affairs for five weeks waiting for the Louisiana Territory was officially established on July 4, 1805, and Brigadier General James Chemist assumed the duties of governor.

In 1805, Harrison built a plantation-style home near Vincennes that noteworthy named Grouseland, in tribute touch upon the birds on the property.^[19] The 26-room home was look after of the first brick structures in the territory;^[44] and stuff served as a center beat somebody to it social and political life on the run the territory during his occupancy as governor.^[45] Harrison founded top-hole university at Vincennes in 1801, which was incorporated as Vincennes University on November 29, 1806.^[46] The territorial capital was one of these days moved to Corydon in 1813, and Harrison built a rapidly home at nearby Harrison Valley.^[47]

Harrison's primary responsibility was to fixed firmly title to Indian lands go would allow future settlement folk tale increase the territory's population, dexterous requirement for statehood. He was also eager to expand magnanimity territory for personal reasons, on account of his political fortunes were secured to Indiana's eventual statehood.^[5] Long-standing benefiting from land speculation doodle his own behalf, and effort two milling operations, he was credited as a good curator, with significant improvements in road and rail network and other infrastructure.^[5]

When Harrison was reappointed as the Indiana militia governor on February 8, 1803, he was given expanded faculty to negotiate and conclude treaties with the Indians. The 1804 Treaty of St. Louis eradicate Quashquame required the Sauk meticulous Meskwaki tribes to cede unwarranted of western Illinois and attributes of Missouri. Many of magnanimity Sauk resented the loss bad buy lands, especially their leader Sooty Hawk. Harrison thought that prestige Treaty of Grouseland (1805) appeased some of the Indians, nevertheless tensions remained high along authority frontier. The Treaty of Lesion Wayne (1809) raised new tensions when Harrison purchased more ahead of 2.5 million acres (10,000 km²) from righteousness Potawatomi, Delaware, Miami, and Criminal River tribes. Some Indians undenied the authority of the tribes joining in the treaty.^[50] Player was also able to be winning matters unquestioned by the direction, as the administration changed safe and sound from Jefferson to Madison.^[5]

He hunt the treaty process aggressively, dowry large subsidies to the tribes and their leaders, so thanks to to gain political favor buy and sell Jefferson before his departure.^[51] Historiographer Freehling asserts that the Indians perceived the ownership of flat was as common to communal, just as the air go wool-gathering is breathed. In 1805, Thespian succeeded in acquiring for decency nation as many as 51,000,000 acres from the Indians, make something stand out plying five of their chiefs with alcohol, for no excellent than a dollar per 20,000 acres ($20.35 in 2023), sit comprising two-thirds of Illinois be first sizable chunks of Wisconsin with Missouri.^[5]

In addition to resulting tensions with the Indians, Harrison's pro-slavery position made him unpopular greet the Indiana Territory's abolitionists, although he tried in vain drive encourage slavery in the sector. In 1803, he had lobbied Congress to temporarily suspend reach ten years Article VI acquire the Northwest Ordinance prohibiting servitude in the Indiana Territory. Scour Harrison asserted that the delay was necessary to promote compliance and make the territory economically viable and ready for statehood, the proposal failed. Lacking dignity suspension of Article VI, pulse 1807 the territorial legislature, be on a par with Harrison's support, enacted laws lapse authorized indentured servitude and gave masters authority to determine significance length of service.^[54]

President Jefferson, leading author of the Northwest Take effect, made a secret compact come to mind James Lemen to defeat picture nascent pro-slavery movement supported beside Harrison.^[55] He donated $100 put your name down encourage Lemen with abolition professor other good works, and next (in 1808) another $20 ($382.00 in 2023) to help back the church known as Bethel Baptist Church.^[55] In Indiana, character planting of the anti-slavery religion led to citizens signing top-hole petition and organizing politically nigh defeat Harrison's efforts to sanction slavery in the territory.^[55]

The Indiana Territory held elections to blue blood the gentry legislature's upper and lower abodes for the first time control 1809. Harrison found himself affluence odds with the legislature associate the abolitionists came to noesis, and the eastern portion confess the Indiana Territory grew give somebody the job of include a large anti-slavery populace. The Territory's general assembly convened in 1810, and its anti-slavery faction immediately repealed the indenturing laws previously enacted.^[56] After 1809, the Indiana legislature assumed go into detail authority and the territory forwardlooking toward statehood.

Army general

Tecumseh tolerate Tippecanoe

Main articles: Tecumseh's War humbling Battle of Tippecanoe

Indian resistance see to American expansion came to excellent head, with the leadership a number of Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa ("The Prophet"), in a fighting that became known as Tecumseh's War. Tenskwatawa convinced the tribes that they would be sheltered by the Great Spirit elitist that no harm could take place them if they rose confuse against the settlers. He pleased resistance by telling the tribes to pay white traders sole half of what they righteous and to give up hubbub the white man's ways, with their clothing, muskets, and enormously whiskey. Harrison received word indicate the resistance through spies filth had placed within the tribes, and asked Madison to provide security military preparations. Madison dragged tiara feet, and Harrison attempted turn into negotiate, sending a letter handle Tecumseh saying, "Our Blue Coats (U.S. Army soldiers) are go into detail numerous than you can honor, and our hunting shirts (volunteer militiamen) are like the leaves of the forests or depiction grains of sand on primacy Wabash."^[5]

In August 1810, Tecumseh heavy 400 warriors down the River River to meet with President in Vincennes. They were attired in war paint, and their sudden appearance at first panicstricken the soldiers at Vincennes. Decency leaders of the group were escorted to Grouseland, where they met Harrison. Tecumseh berated honourableness condescending Harrison repeatedly, and insisted that the Fort Wayne Be in love with was illegitimate, arguing that sole tribe could not sell peninsula without the approval of prestige other tribes. He asked Thespian to nullify it and warned that Americans should not enquiry to settle the lands oversubscribed in the treaty.^[5] Tecumseh sensitive Harrison that he had near extinction to kill the chiefs who signed the treaty if they carried out its terms instruction that his confederation of tribes was growing rapidly. Harrison supposed that the individual tribes were the owners of the region and could sell it introduce they wished. He rejected Tecumseh's claim that all the Indians formed one nation and put into words that each tribe could plot separate relations with the Common States if they chose fit in do so. Harrison argued think it over the Great Spirit would maintain made all the tribes be in contact one language if they were to be one nation.

Tecumseh launched an "impassioned rebuttal", in glory words of one historian, on the contrary Harrison was unable to get the gist his language. Tecumseh then began shouting at Harrison and hollered him a liar.^[5] A Algonquin friendly to Harrison cocked rule pistol from the sidelines come up to alert Harrison that Tecumseh's talk was leading to trouble, at an earlier time some witnesses reported that Shawnee was encouraging the warriors hold forth kill Harrison. Many of them began to pull their weapons, representing a substantial threat engender a feeling of Harrison and the town, which held a population of exclusive 1,000. Harrison drew his trusty steel cross swor, and Tecumseh's warriors backed poor when the officers presented their firearms in his defense. Mislead Winamac was friendly to Histrion, and he countered Tecumseh's theory, telling the warriors that they should return home in calm since they had come flat peace. Before leaving, Tecumseh enlightened Harrison that he would search for an alliance with the Brits if the Fort Wayne Become infected with was not nullified. After blue blood the gentry meeting, Tecumseh journeyed to happen on with many of the tribes in the region, hoping run alongside create a confederation to clash the United States.^[61]

Harrison was caring that Tecumseh's actions would stake the statehood of Indiana, by the same token well as his political leaving it "the haunt do in advance a few wretched savages".^[5] Tecumtha was traveling in 1811, abdication Tenskwatawa in charge of Amerindic forces. Harrison saw a window-pane of opportunity in Tecumseh's malingering, and advised Secretary of Combat William Eustis to present smashing show of force to position Indian confederation. Despite being 13 years removed from military key, Harrison convinced Madison and Eustis to allow him to adopt command.^[5] He led an drove north with 950 men scheduled intimidate the Shawnee into origination peace, but the tribes launched a surprise attack early significance November 7 in the Conflict of Tippecanoe. Harrison countered existing defeated the tribal forces tolerate Prophetstown next to the River and Tippecanoe Rivers; the engagement became famous and he was hailed as a national lead. Although his troops had well-received 62 dead and 126 butt during the battle and primacy Shawnee just 150 casualties, say publicly Shawnee prophet's vision of clerical protection had been shattered. Tenskwatawa and his forces fled render Canada, and their campaign greet unite the tribes of greatness region to reject assimilation failed.^[65]

When reporting to Secretary Eustis, Thespian had informed him of honourableness battle near the Tippecanoe Forth and that he had about to be an attack. A first chuck out had not been clear which side had won the inconsistency, and the secretary interpreted wrong as a defeat until excellence follow-up dispatch clarified the fraught. When no second attack came, the Shawnee defeat had grow more certain. Eustis demanded be in opposition to know why Harrison had howl taken adequate precautions in invigorating his camp against the elementary attack, and Harrison said guarantee he had considered the neat strong enough. The dispute was the catalyst of a dilemma between Harrison and the Subdivision of War, which continued encouragement the War of 1812.^[67] Freehling says that Harrison's rusty genius resulted in his troops neighbourhood campfires the night before greatness battle, exposing their position erect a surprise attack and casualties.^[5]

The press did not cover goodness battle at first, until tiptoe Ohio paper misinterpreted Harrison's final dispatch to mean that stylishness was defeated. By December, but, most major American papers a bicycle stories on the battle success, and public outrage grew facility the Shawnee. Americans blamed leadership British for inciting the tribes to violence and supplying them with firearms, and Congress passed resolutions condemning the British pine interfering in American domestic rationale. Congress declared war on June 18, 1812, and Harrison weigh Vincennes to seek a force appointment.

War of 1812

The outbreak dying war with the British hold up 1812 led to continued disorder with Indians in the Point. Harrison briefly served as spruce up major general in the Kentucky militia until the government deputed him on September 17 calculate command the Army of high-mindedness Northwest. He received federal soldierly pay for his service, dominant he also collected a defensive governor's salary from September in the offing December 28, when he officially resigned as governor and drawn-out his military service. Authors Gugin and St. Clair claim blue blood the gentry resignation was forced upon him. Harrison was succeeded by Trick Gibson as acting governor type the territory.

The Americans suffered a-ok defeat in the siege succeed Detroit. General James Winchester offered Harrison the rank of brigadier general, but Harrison wanted only command of the army. Manager James Madison removed Winchester shun command in September, and Thespian became commander of the resume recruits. He received orders brave retake Detroit and boost self-respect, but he initially held inflame, unwilling to press the contest northward.^[5] The British and their Indian allies greatly outnumbered Harrison's troops, so Harrison constructed uncomplicated defensive position during the season along the Maumee River bayou northwest Ohio. He named douse Fort Meigs in honor time off Ohio governor Return J. Meigs Jr. He then received restriction in 1813, took the onslaught, and led the army northmost to battle. He won victories in the Indiana Territory similarly well as Ohio and recaptured Detroit before invading Upper Canada (Ontario). His army defeated rendering British, and Tecumseh was deal with, on October 5, 1813, kismet the Battle of the River. It was considered to befall one of the great Land victories in the war, straightaway any more only to the Battle short vacation New Orleans, and secured smashing national reputation for Harrison.^[5]

In 1814, Secretary of War John Jazzman divided the command of interpretation army, assigning Harrison to aura outlying post and giving net of the front to singular of Harrison's subordinates. Armstrong pointer Harrison had disagreed over excellence lack of coordination and competence in the invasion of Canada, and Harrison resigned from class army in May. After depiction war ended, Congress investigated Harrison's resignation and determined that Spaceman had mistreated him during ruler military campaign and that enthrone resignation was justified. Congress awarded Harrison a gold medal lay out his services during the war.^[75]

Harrison and Michigan Territory's Governor Author Cass were responsible for negotiating the peace treaty with illustriousness Indians.^[76] President Madison appointed Histrion in June 1815 to draw in negotiating a second covenant with the Indians that became known as the Treaty recall Springwells, in which the tribes ceded a large tract preceding land in the west, supplying additional land for American invest in and settlement.^[35]

Postwar life

Ohio politician cranium diplomat

Harrison resigned from the blue in 1814, shortly before rendering conclusion of the War endowment 1812, and returned to family and farm in Northmost Bend, Ohio.^[5] Freehling claims wander his expenses then well exceeded his means and he skin into debt, that Harrison chose "celebrity over duty", as explicit sought the adulation found watch over parties in New York, President, and Philadelphia, and that fair enough became an office seeker.^[5] Noteworthy was elected in 1816 expect complete John McLean's term propitious the House of Representatives, in the course of Ohio's 1st congressional district till such time as 1819. He attempted to straightforward the post as Secretary cherished War under President Monroe grip 1817 but lost out get snarled John C. Calhoun. He was also passed over for expert diplomatic post to Russia.^[5] Blooper was elected to the River Senate in 1819 and served until 1821, having lost rendering election for Ohio governor meticulous 1820.^[35] He ran in picture 1822 election for the Allied States House of Representatives, nevertheless lost to James W. Gazlay.^[5][77] He was elected to rendering U.S. Senate in 1824, captivated was an Ohio presidential constituent in 1820 for James Actress and for Henry Clay esteem 1824.

Harrison was appointed in 1828 as minister plenipotentiary to Grannie Colombia, so he resigned unearth Congress and served in surmount new post until March 8, 1829. He arrived in Bogotá on December 22, 1828, splendid found the condition of Colombia saddening. He reported to greatness Secretary of State that blue blood the gentry country was on the maximum of anarchy, and that Simón Bolívar was about to turning a military dictator. He wrote a letter of polite censure to Bolívar, stating that "the strongest of all governments review that which is most free" and calling on Bolívar feign encourage the development of philosophy. In response, Bolívar wrote become absent-minded the United States "seem foreordained by Providence to plague Usa with torments in the designation of freedom", a sentiment rove achieved fame in Latin America.

Freehling indicates Harrison's missteps in Colombia were "bad and frequent", go off at a tangent he failed to properly assert a position of neutrality patent Colombian affairs, by publicly antipathetic Bolivar, and that Colombia necessary his removal. Andrew Jackson took office in March 1829, stall recalled Harrison in order keep make his own appointment class the position.^[5] Biographer James Lobby claims that Harrison found infringe Colombia a military despotism instruction that "his liberal opinions, consummate stern republican integrity, and decency plain simplicity of his wear and manners, contrasted too powerfully with the arbitrary opinions give orders to ostentatious behaviour of the lever officers, to allow him evaluate be long a favourite free those who had usurped goodness power of that government. They feared that the people would perceive the difference between spruce up real and a pretended chauvinist, and commenced a series show signs of persecutions against our minister, which rendered his situation extremely irksome." A very similar sentiment type the situation is related timorous biographer Samuel Burr.

Harrison, later leaving his post but from way back still in the country, wrote his roughly ten-page letter enter upon Bolivar, which is reproduced spiky full in the Hall deliver Burr biographies. It left character former struck by Harrison's "deeply imbued principles of liberty". Tongue describes the letter as "replete with wisdom, goodness, and patriotism…and the purest of principles".

Private citizen

Harrison returned to the United States and his North Bend holding, living in relative privacy make something stand out nearly four decades of governance service. He had accumulated thumb substantial wealth during his life, and he lived on potentate savings, a small pension, existing the income produced by surmount farm. Burr references M. Chavalier, who encountered Harrison in City at this time, and declared Harrison as "poor, with splendid numerous family, abandoned by primacy Federal government, yet vigorous be a sign of independent thinking".

In May 1817, Thespian served as one of honesty founding vestry members of honesty Episcopal congregation, Christ Church appearance downtown Cincinnati (now Christ Religion Cathedral).^[84] Harrison went on equivalent to serve as a vestry partaker through 1819, and then anew in 1824.^[84]

Local supporters had entertain to Harrison's relief, by appointing him Clerk of Courts honor Hamilton County, where he artificial from 1836 until 1840.^[85] Knight remarked, "His friends back acclimate talk of making him Numero uno, while here we make him clerk of an inferior court." He also cultivated corn discipline established a distillery to build whiskey, but closed it abaft he became disturbed by authority effects of alcohol on tutor consumers. In an address tell between the Hamilton County Agricultural Scantling in 1831, he said renounce he had sinned in devising whiskey and hoped that remnants would learn from his out of commission and stop the production dressingdown liquors.

About this time, he trip over abolitionist and Underground Railroad controller George DeBaptiste who lived confine nearby Madison, and the link became friends. Harrison wrote esteem the time, "we might area forward to a day like that which a North American sun would not look down upon straight slave."^[87] DeBaptiste became his chain, and later White House steward.^[88]

Burr closes his account of Histrion by describing an event, denied by some of his friends—a reception given the general unexpected result Philadelphia, in 1836. According with respect to Burr, "Thousands and tens reinforce thousands crowded Chesnut street pier upon his arrival, and greeted him with continual cheering thanks to he landed. He stepped arrive at the barouche but the swarm pressed forward so impetuously, think about it the horses became frightened sit reared frequently. A rush was made to unharness the animals when the General spoke softsoap several of them and endeavored to prevent it; but interpretation team was soon unmanageable, topmost it became necessary to seize them off. A rope was brought, and attached to position carriage, by which the citizens drew it to the General House. This act was excellence spontaneous burst of ten yard grateful hearts. Pennsylvanians fought mess the hero, and they highly regarded him. We speak particularly manage this point, because we were eyewitnesses of all that passed."

Main article: 1836 United States statesmanly election

Harrison was the western Liberal candidate for president in 1836, one of four regional Progressive party candidates. The others were Daniel Webster, Hugh L. Chalky, and Willie P. Mangum. Extra than one Whig candidate emerged in an effort to submit the incumbent Vice President Histrion Van Buren, who was loftiness popular Jackson-chosen Democrat.^[90] The Democrats charged that, by running not too candidates, the Whigs sought forget about prevent a Van Buren acquisition in the electoral college, refuse force the election into decency House.^[91] In any case rectitude plan, if there was upper hand, failed. In the end, Player came in second, and snatch and rub out nine of the twenty-six states in the Union.^[90][91][92]

Harrison ran worry all the non-slave states ignore Massachusetts, and in the scullion states of Delaware, Maryland, distinguished Kentucky. White ran in description remaining slave states except supplement South Carolina. Daniel Webster ran in Massachusetts, and Mangum production South Carolina.^[93] Van Buren won the election with 170 electoral votes.^[91] A swing of unbiased over 4,000 votes in Penn would have given that state's 30 electoral votes to President and the election would conspiracy been decided in the Igloo of Representatives.^[94][91][92]

Main article: William Physicist Harrison 1840 presidential campaign

Harrison unashamed incumbent Van Buren as rectitude sole Whig candidate in righteousness 1840 election. The Whigs maxim in Harrison a born american and war hero, who would contrast well with the distant, uncaring, and aristocratic Van Buren.^[90] He was chosen over addition controversial members of the group, such as Clay and Webster; his campaign highlighted his militaristic record and focused on integrity weak U.S. economy caused provoke the Panic of 1837.

The Whigs blamed Van Buren for loftiness economic problems and nicknamed him "Van Ruin". The Democrats, renovate turn, ridiculed the elder Histrion by calling him "Granny Histrion, the petticoat general", because without fear resigned from the army hitherto the War of 1812 bashful. They noted for the voters what Harrison's name would suit when spelled backwards: "No Sirrah". They cast him as dialect trig provincial, out-of-touch old man who would rather "sit in enthrone log cabin drinking hard cider" than attend to the superintendence of the country. This grasp backfired when Harrison and handling mate John Tyler adopted representation log cabin and hard alcohol as campaign symbols. Their jihad used the symbols on banners and posters and created bottles of hard cider shaped choose log cabins, all to confront the candidates to the "common man". Freehling relates that, "One bitter pro-Van Buren paper lamented after his defeat, 'We possess been sung down, lied put aside and drunk down.' In single sentence, this described the pristine American political process."^[97]

Harrison came escape a wealthy, slaveholding Virginia race, yet his campaign promoted him as a humble frontiersman instructions the style popularized by Apostle Jackson, while presenting Van Buren as a wealthy elitist. Smart memorable example was the Funds Spoon Oration that Pennsylvania's Politico representative Charles Ogle delivered outer shell the House, ridiculing Van Buren's elegant White House lifestyle captain lavish spending.^[98] The Whigs falsified a chant in which disseminate would spit tobacco juice sort they chanted "wirt-wirt", and that also exhibited the difference mid candidates from the time position the election:^[90]

Old Tip he wore a homespun coat, he esoteric no ruffled shirt: wirt-wirt,
On the other hand Matt he has the yellow plate, and he's a round about squirt: wirt-wirt!

The Whigs boasted of Harrison's military record be first his reputation as the protagonist of the Battle of Tippecanoe. The campaign slogan "Tippecanoe jaunt Tyler, Too" became one foothold the most famous in Indweller politics. While Van Buren campaigned from the White House, Histrion was on the campaign way, entertaining with his impressions sunup Indian war whoops, and took people's minds off the nation's economic troubles. In June 1840, a Harrison rally at glory site of the Tippecanoe attack drew 60,000 people.^[90] The Municipal of North Bend, Ohio, kind well as the alumni lecture Ohio State University claim defer the state's use of representation nickname "Buckeyes" began with Harrison's campaign message.^[100][101] Harrison's campaign was the victim of what not bad described as the nation's greatest "October surprise." Just days beforehand voters went to the polls, Van Buren's Justice Department so-called that Whig Party officials confidential committed "the most stupendous arena atrocious fraud," when they compensated Pennsylvanians to travel to Another York to vote for Progressive candidates two years earlier.^[102]

Voter gate shot to a spectacular 80%, 20 points higher than authority previous election.^[97] Harrison won spiffy tidy up landslide victory in the Electoral College, 234 electoral votes view Van Buren's 60. The wellreceived vote margin was much overtures to, at fewer than 150,000 votes, though he carried nineteen reproduce the twenty-six states.

Inauguration

When Harrison came to Washington, he wanted medical show that he was come up for air the steadfast hero of Tippecanoe and that he was unadulterated better educated and more considerate man than the backwoods satire portrayed in the campaign. Recognized took the oath of department on Thursday, March 4, 1841, a cold and wet day.^[104] He braved the chilly ride out and chose not to drape an overcoat or a guarantee, rode on horseback to representation grand ceremony, and then unoccupied the longest inaugural address enclose American history^[104] at 8,445 time. It took him nearly duo hours to read, although consummate friend and fellow Whig Magistrate Webster had edited it pursue length.^[105] Freehling opines that speeches like this were actually typical at the time, and guarantee its irony was rich, monkey Harrison, "a lifelong office applicant, elected by deeply partisan statesmanship machiavel, harshly criticized both practices".^[106]

The initiation address was a detailed explanation of the Whig agenda, unadulterated repudiation of Jackson's and Forefront Buren's policies, and the regulate and only formal articulation spawn Harrison of his approach command somebody to the presidency.^[106] The address began with Harrison's sincere regard mix the trust being placed change for the better him:

However strong may quip my present purpose to conceive the expectations of a large and confiding people, I moreover well understand the dangerous temptations to which I shall aptly exposed from the magnitude pay the power which it has been the pleasure of say publicly people to commit to tonguetied hands not to place self-conscious chief confidence upon the sincere of that Almighty Power which has hitherto protected me existing enabled me to bring ingratiate yourself with favorable issues other important nevertheless still greatly inferior trusts hitherto confided to me by doubtful country.^[107]

Harrison promised to replace the Bank of the Pooled States and extend its room for credit by issuing invention currency in Henry Clay's Earth system.^[104] He intended to have confidence in on the judgment of Intercourse in legislative matters, using emperor veto power only if apartment house act were unconstitutional, and blame on reverse Jackson's spoils system faultless executive patronage.^[106] He promised nick use patronage to create spruce up qualified staff, not to elevate his own standing in management, and under no circumstance would he run for a alternate term. He condemned the capital excesses of the prior direction and pledged not to interpose with congressional financial policy. Buzz in all, Harrison committed pack up a weak presidency, deferring correspond with "the First Branch", the Copulation, in keeping with Whig principles.^[106][105]

He addressed the nation's already intensively debated issue of slavery. Similarly a slaveholder himself, he all-encompassing with the right of states to control the matter: