# 96105 - 1977 William Harrison Commemorative Cover
Birth Of William Henry HarrisonÂ
Harrison was the last American President born a British subject. Williamâs father, Benjamin Harrison V, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a governor of Virginia.
When he was 14, Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney College. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a profession he did not like. William had no money for school after his father died in 1791. So Governor Lee, a friend of his fatherâs, encouraged him to join the army. Within 24 hours, Harrison was commissioned an ensign in the US Army, 11th US Regiment of Infantry.
With the creation of the new territories, President John Adams appointed Harrison governor of the new Indiana Territory. In addition to appointing territory officials and dividing it into districts, Harrison also met with the Native Americans to obtain land for settlement and statehood. Harrison negotiated 13 treaties and acquired more than 60 million acres of land. However, many Native Americans did not accept the treaties, causing high tensions on the new American frontier.
Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (The Prophet) led a resistance movement known as Tecumsehâs War. The brothers convinced their fellow natives the Great Spirit would protect them if they revolted against the white settlers. In 1810, Tecumseh led 400 armed warriors to Vincennes to demand the Treaty of Fort Wayne be repealed. While this meeting ended peacefully, it did not end the unrest. Angered by Harrisonâs refusal to return their lands, Tecumseh traveled to find more warriors to battle the US.
Before the battle was over, Tenskwatawa reportedly placed a curse on Harrison, known as âTecumsehâs Curse.â According to tradition, every US President elected in a year ending with zero (every 20 years) would die in office. Despite the lack of physical evidence of the curse, it appeared to come true for Harrison and the next six zero-year Presidents. The pattern was broken by Ronald Reagan, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt early in his term in office.
President Harrison never got to make these changes, dying of pneumonia on April 4, 1841. His last words (likely intended for Vice President John Tyler) were, âSir, I wish you to understand the true principles of the government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.â He was the first President to die in office and served the shortest term of any President at 30 days, 12 hours, and 32 minutes
Birth Of William Henry HarrisonÂ
Harrison was the last American President born a British subject. Williamâs father, Benjamin Harrison V, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a governor of Virginia.
When he was 14, Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney College. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a profession he did not like. William had no money for school after his father died in 1791. So Governor Lee, a friend of his fatherâs, encouraged him to join the army. Within 24 hours, Harrison was commissioned an ensign in the US Army, 11th US Regiment of Infantry.
With the creation of the new territories, President John Adams appointed Harrison governor of the new Indiana Territory. In addition to appointing territory officials and dividing it into districts, Harrison also met with the Native Americans to obtain land for settlement and statehood. Harrison negotiated 13 treaties and acquired more than 60 million acres of land. However, many Native Americans did not accept the treaties, causing high tensions on the new American frontier.
Shawnee brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (The Prophet) led a resistance movement known as Tecumsehâs War. The brothers convinced their fellow natives the Great Spirit would protect them if they revolted against the white settlers. In 1810, Tecumseh led 400 armed warriors to Vincennes to demand the Treaty of Fort Wayne be repealed. While this meeting ended peacefully, it did not end the unrest. Angered by Harrisonâs refusal to return their lands, Tecumseh traveled to find more warriors to battle the US.
Before the battle was over, Tenskwatawa reportedly placed a curse on Harrison, known as âTecumsehâs Curse.â According to tradition, every US President elected in a year ending with zero (every 20 years) would die in office. Despite the lack of physical evidence of the curse, it appeared to come true for Harrison and the next six zero-year Presidents. The pattern was broken by Ronald Reagan, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt early in his term in office.
President Harrison never got to make these changes, dying of pneumonia on April 4, 1841. His last words (likely intended for Vice President John Tyler) were, âSir, I wish you to understand the true principles of the government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.â He was the first President to die in office and served the shortest term of any President at 30 days, 12 hours, and 32 minutes