President MARTIN VAN BUREN had failed to rescue the country from the economic panic of 1837. President Harrison inherited a depression. In the early 1840s, it spread throughout the economy. Harrison had no program to cure it. During his first few days in office, the new president called a special session of the Congress. He wanted to discuss the economic crisis. The session was scheduled to begin on May 31, 1841. Harrison died on April 4, 1841.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON AND HIS TIMES
"Old Tip"
Harrison was nicknamed "Old Tip." The nickname came from the Battle of Tippecanoe. (His troops defeated the Swanee Indians at Tippecanoe in 1811.)
(William Henry)Harrison the First Whig President
Harrison was the first Whig elected president of the United States. He was elected in 1840.
(William Henry) Harrison the Second Oldest President
Harrison was elected president at 67 years old. He was 68 years old when he was inaugurated. He was the last U.S. president who was once a British subject. Until RONALD REAGAN was elected in 1980, Harrison was the oldest person ever elected president of the United States.
(William Henry) Harrison's Inauguration
Harrison was inaugurated March 4, 1841. The day was wet and cold. Harrison did not wear a hat or overcoat. He rode to the Capitol on horseback. He gave the longest inaugural address in history. It lasted nearly two hours.
Harrison's inaugural parade was also one of the longest in history. There were scores of marching bands, military units, and so on. The parade featured mobile log cabins. (The log cabin had been Harrison's campaign symbol.) Harrison was the first president to have three inaugural balls. He visited all three balls.
The Shortest Presidency
Harrison died April 4, 1841. He had been president for exactly one month. Harrison had the shortest presidency in U.S. history. He was also the first president to die in office.
(William Henry) Harrison and Tyler
When Harrison died in office, JOHN TYLER became president. Both Harrison and Tyler were born in Charles City County, Virginia. Both were also sons of former Virginia governors.
The First Presidential Widow's Pension
Anna Harrison received the first presidential widow's pension. In 1841, Congress granted her $25,000. Her pension was equivalent to the president's salary for one year. Mary Todd Lincoln was later granted the same benefit. But Mrs. Lincoln also received an annual pension. (In 1882, Mrs. Lincoln's pension was increased from $3,000 to $5,000 annually.) In 1971, Congress increased the widows' pension to $20,000 per year. Presidents' widows lose their pensions if they remarry before they reach 60 years of age.
Daniel Webster
In 1841, Harrison appointed Daniel Webster secretary of state. Webster held the same job under ZACHARY TAYLOR and MILLARD FILLMORE. Before he became secretary of state, Webster was a U.S. senator from Massachusetts. In the Senate, he developed a reputation as one of the great public speakers of his time.
Webster was often mentioned as a possible candidate for the presidency. But he favored compromise on the issue of slavery. As a result, he was always unacceptable to northern Abolitionists. Daniel Webster died in 1852.
The Liberty Party
The Liberty Party was founded by Abolitionists in the late 1830s. It was the first antislavery party in the United States. The party nominated James Birney for president in 1840 and in 1844. In 1848, the Liberty Party merged with the Free Soil Party.
Grouseland
Grouseland was Harrison's home in Vincennes (Knox County), Indiana. He built the house around 1803. At the time, he was governor of the Indiana Territory. The house is notable for its 13 fireplaces. Grouseland is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is open to the public.
