William+Harrison

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison was born February 9, 1773. He was the 9th President of the United States and served from March 4,1847-April 4, 1847. He started his career at Hampden-Sydney College where he studied history and then studied medicine at Richmond. In 1871, he wanted to become an Army Officer. He switched to that position and stayed there for most of his life.He served as the first Governor of the Indian Territory and later as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Ohio. He was nicknamed Tippercanoe for leading U>S. forces against American Indians at the Battle of Tippercanoe in 1811. He was a general in the War of 1812. His most noteworthy victory was at the Battle of the Thames.

When Harrison took office in 1841 at the age of 68, he was the oldest man to become President. This record stood for 140 years, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in 1981 at the age of 69. Harrison died thirty-one days into his term giving him the honors of having the briefest presidency in the history of the office. He was also the first U.S. President to die while in office.