Harrison as president

Harrison's Grouseland

Harrison as a young man

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison was historically significant to the city of Vincennes in the state of Indiana. He was born on February 9, 1773 in Charles City County, Virginia. His parents were Benjamin Harrison and Elizabeth Bassett Harrison. His brother’s name was Carter Bassett Harrison. Harrison’s father worked at a tobacco plantation. William was home schooled as a child but later went to Hampden-Sydney College in 1787 where his favorite subject was history. To relax he enjoyed walking and horseback riding. In 1795 Anna Symmes and William Henry Harrison were married.

William Henry Harrison was a farmer, a soldier, governor of the Indiana Territory, and the ninth President of the United States. He took over farming of his father’s tobacco plantation. Later, Harrison began his military career on August 16, 1791 at the age of eighteen. When he was commissioned, he joined the First Regiment of Infantry. On May 31, 1798 he rose to the rank of captain. His mission was to destroy the deserted Prophetstown. On November 7, 1811 the Americans defeated the Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Later, on October 5, 1813, his forces decisively defeated the British soldiers at Moravian, at town on the Thames River. During this battle Harrison’s ally and enemy, Tecumseh, was killed. He became the Governor of the Indiana Territory from 1800-1812. Harrison became the President of the United States on March 4, 1841 and died a month after he was elected. When Harrison was elected President, he was living in the state of Ohio. His religion was Episcopalian, and his political party was Whig.

In Vincennes there is a house called“Grouseland” that William Henry Harrison lived in. There are two curved staircases going upstairs and downstairs. Grouseland was named after a bird he loved to hunt, the grouse. There is a bullet hole in the far left hand corner of the dining room where Harrison was shot at while holding his son. The bullet was never found. Grouseland was the first brick building in Vincennes. The mansion has twenty rooms and thirteen fireplaces. Harrison invited townspeople to stay while under Indian attacks. Today the Daughters of the American Revolution take care of the Harrison Mansion. They restored it to look like it did in the 1800’s.

William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841 at the age of sixty-eight. On the day of his death Harrison was in Washington, D.C. Harrison was buried at the William Henry Harrison Memorial State Park, in North Bend, Ohio. He earned his place in the history of Indiana.

Colby and Josh