Discover the Top 14 Fun Facts About William Henry Harrison: Unveiling the Quirky Side of America's Shortest-Term President!

1. First President to Arrive by Train

All aboard the Harrison Express, next stop: Presidential Inauguration Station! Choo-choo-choose to believe it or not, but: William Henry Harrison was the first president-elect to arrive in Washington, D.C. by train, and his inauguration saw the formation of an official committee that planned a parade and ball, featuring the "Tippecanoe" ball at Carusi's Saloon which hosted 1000 guests at $10 per person.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. The Colonial Hype-Man

Before he battled his way into the White House, William Henry Harrison was dropping beats (aka communicating orders) and rallying the troops like a colonial hype-man: This founding father helped pull off victories in the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812, even earning a promotion to major general before slaying in the Battle of the Thames and sealing Tecumseh's fate.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that John Tyler, the 10th US president, had a stunning 15 children, including one with a unique distinction? Find out more about this historical family!

=> Fun Facts about John-Tyler

3. Tippecanoe and Pirates Too

Before Johnny Depp made delirium-drenched adventure movies about rum and pirates, ol' William Henry Harrison endured a dash of tipple and a blockbuster bout of battles: Harrison was a military hero from the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812, served 12 years as Indiana Territory's Governor, and won the presidency in 1840, only to kick the bucket on his 32nd day in office due to pneumonia, becoming the first U.S. President to die on the job.
Source => whitehouse.gov

4. Humble Frontiersman and Shortest Presidency

Who needs Netflix and chill when you've got William and ill: William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, hailed from an aristocratic background but played the role of a humble frontiersman, won the presidency by a landslide in the Electoral College, and then promptly set a record by dying just 32 days into his term.
Source => whitehouse.gov

5. OG Short-lived Success

If you think your short-lived New Year's resolutions are disappointing, let's give a round of applause to the OG of short-lived successes: William Henry Harrison, whose presidency lasted only a mere 31 days before he caught pneumonia and became the first president to die in office, leaving everyone scratching their heads about the succession process in 1841.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Record-breakingly Long Inauguration Speech

They say brevity is the soul of wit, but William Henry Harrison didn't get the memo when it came to his inauguration speech: Lasting a record 1 hour and 45 minutes in frigid rain, the lengthy address might have simultaneously led to his untimely demise as he contracted pneumonia and died just a month into his presidency.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Hard Cider Campaign Merch

Let's "bottle" the spirit of American presidential campaigns: William Henry Harrison's 1840 run for the White House popularized catchy slogans and campaign merchandise, including log cabin-shaped bottles filled with hard cider. The Whig Party's innovatively spirited (and literally spirit-promoting) tactics made merchandise a mainstay for future campaigns.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Longest Speech, Shortest Presidency

If brevity is the soul of wit, William Henry Harrison's inauguration must have been the dullest affair in history: He delivered an astounding 8,445-word speech on a freezing March day, which ironically contributed to his untimely death just 31 days into his presidency.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Cider-Swigging Backwoodsman Image

Dare to call him "Granny"? More like "Indiana Jones meets Whiskey in a Log Cabin"! Old Bill Harrison singlehandedly redefined senior citizen goals during his 1840 presidential campaign: Democrats tried to mock him as a doddering old man, but the crafty Whigs swung it into a heroic, cider-swigging backwoodsman persona with the catchy slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."
Source => americaslibrary.gov

10. Catchy Campaign Songs

Before Spotify playlists and TikTok tunes, catchy campaign songs rocked the vote: William Henry Harrison's 1840 presidential run featured a popular ditty called "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," written by Alexander Coffman Ross. This toe-tapping tune praised Harrison as the brave hero of Tippecanoe, mocked his opponent Martin Van Buren, and cemented the art of musical campaigning in American politics.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Native Language Extraordinaire

Before becoming president, William Henry Harrison was often behind the scenes, meddling in native affairs – but he did it with style and a knack for languages: As a young representative for the U.S. government, Harrison was fluent in multiple Native American languages, working as an interpreter during negotiations and earning the respect of many Native American leaders.
Source => encyclopedia.com

12. Education Tree Mystery

In what could be called the ultimate "granddaddy's footsteps" tale, it appears the education tree didn't quite fall close enough to the Harrison family's offspring: William Henry Harrison, a class of 1791 alumnus, attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia – the last American college founded in British Colonial America with uninterrupted operation since November 10, 1775. However, there's no proof his grandson Benjamin followed in those venerable footsteps.
Source => hsc.edu

13. Top Hat and Pneumonia

In the game of presidential one-upmanship, William Henry Harrison took the stand and declared, "Hold my top hat!" as he delivered a speech for the ages: The ninth U.S. President set an unbeatable record with a two-hour-long inauguration address in freezing rain, sans coat or hat, only to succumb to pneumonia and pass away after just one month in office.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

14. Sprawling Harrison Family Tree

When it comes to family matters, William Henry Harrison was quite the fruitful commander-in-chief, and one might say his family tree was as sprawling as his 30-day reign as president: Harrison had a whopping 11 children and could boast anywhere from 14 to 25 grandchildren, with the exact number being a mystery of historical records, making him quite possibly the U.S. president with the most grandkids.
Source => fivethirtyeight.com