William Henry Harrison

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Learn about Old Tippecanoe's marches against Native Americans and brief term as president of the United States

Key events in the life of William Henry Harrison.

Harrison, William Henry; Berkeley Plantation

Harrison, William Henry; Tippecanoe, Battle of

Badge from the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison, 1840.

A political cartoon from the 1840 presidential campaign, in which Pres. Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, was defeated by the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison. The cartoon shows Van Buren driving a carriage called “Uncle Sam's Cab,” which wrecks on a pile of “Clay,” representing powerful Whig Sen. Henry Clay. Harrison, depicted as a locomotive, bears down on Van Buren.

For Students

William Henry Harrison summary

Read Next

Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting

Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?

President's bingo. Guess and select to correct president based on images.

Britannica’s U.S. Presidents Bingo

What State Is Washington, D.C. In?

The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.

14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered

Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.

U.S. Death Toll During Major Events

Discover

earthquake. Heavily damaged school in the town of Yingxiu after a major earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008.

The 6 Deadliest Earthquakes Since 1950

Pluto. The Changing Faces of Pluto. Most detailed view to date of the entire surface of the dwarf planet Pluto, as constructed from multiple NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken from 2002 to 2003.

10 Important Dates in Pluto History

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?

Vietnam War. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson awards the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Marty A. Hammer, during a visit to military personnel, Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, October 26, 1966. President Johnson

Vietnam War Timeline

solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?

In this aerial photo, structures are damaged and destroyed October 15, 2005 in Balakot, Pakistan. It is estimated that 90% of the city of Balakot was leveled by the earthquake. The death toll in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005 is believed to be 38,000 with at least 1,300 more dead in Indian Kashmir. SEE CONTENT NOTES.

6 of the World’s Deadliest Natural Disasters

History & Society

William Henry Harrison

president of United States

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 31, 2024 • Article History

William Henry Harrison

See all media

Category: History & Society

Born:: February 9, 1773, Charles City county, Virginia [U.S.]

Died:: April 4, 1841, Washington, D.C., U.S. (aged 68)

Title / Office:: presidency of the United States of America (1841-1841), United States; United States Senate (1825-1828), United States; House of Representatives (1816-1819), United States; governor (1800-1812), Indiana

Political Affiliation:: Whig Party

Notable Family Members:: spouse Anna Harrison

See all related content →

William Henry Harrison (born February 9, 1773, Charles City county, Virginia [U.S.]—died April 4, 1841, Washington, D.C., U.S.) was the ninth president of the United States (1841), whose Indian campaigns, while he was a territorial governor and army officer, thrust him into the national limelight and led to his election in 1840. He was the oldest man, at age 67, ever elected president up to that time, the last president born under British rule, and the first to die in office—after only one month’s service. His grandson Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd president of the United States (1889–93). Born at ...(100 of 1822 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.