The first United States President to die was William Henry Harrison, who passed away on April 4, 1841, just 31 days after his inauguration. Harrison’s tenure as president was the shortest in American history. He contracted pneumonia during his inauguration, likely due to the cold and rainy weather, and never recovered.
When and how did William Henry Harrison die?
William Henry Harrison died on April 4, 1841 at the age of 68. The cause of death was pneumonia, possibly compounded by sepsis and congestive heart failure.
Harrison was inaugurated as the 9th President of the United States on March 4, 1841. He gave the longest inaugural address in history, nearly two hours long, on a cold and wet day without wearing an overcoat or hat. He soon came down with a cold that quickly turned into pneumonia and pleurisy.
Harrison died at the White House exactly one month after his inauguration, having served the shortest tenure of any U.S. president. His last words were reported to be, “Sir, I wish you to understand the true principles of the government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.”
Inauguration Day
Harrison’s inauguration day, March 4, 1841, was bitterly cold and wet. Despite the bad weather, the new president rode on horseback to the Capitol instead of in a closed carriage. He also chose not to wear an overcoat, hat, or gloves.
At his inauguration ceremony, Harrison gave the longest speech ever delivered at an inauguration, clocking in at nearly two hours. He stood outside without any warm clothing amid the cold temperatures and steady rain. Many believe this contributed to him contracting pneumonia just three weeks later.
Declining Health
Harrison developed a cold shortly after his inauguration but insisted on keeping up with his duties. His condition soon worsened into pneumonia and pleurisy. His doctors tried various treatments, including opium, castor oil, Virginia snakeweed, and even actual snakes, but his health continued to decline.
By April 1st, Harrison was bedridden and unable to carry out his presidential responsibilities. He died nine days later from septic shock and pneumonia at the age of 68, just one month into his term as president.
Why was Harrison’s presidency so short?
There are a few key reasons why William Henry Harrison had the shortest tenure of any U.S. president:
- He contracted pneumonia after his long outdoor inauguration speech without warm clothing on a cold, wet day.
- Pneumonia was incurable at the time, often proving fatal.
- Doctors tried ineffective medical treatments like snakeweed and actual snakes.
- Harrison was 68 years old, making his immune system weaker.
- He refused to rest and recover, worsening his condition.
If Harrison had simply worn a coat and hat to his inauguration, he may have lived to serve a longer presidency. Unfortunately, his insistence on riding horseback and giving a lengthy speech in bad weather led to him contracting a fatal case of pneumonia just three weeks later.
Facts about William Henry Harrison
Here are some key facts about President William Henry Harrison:
- He was born in 1773 in Charles City County, Virginia.
- He studied to become a doctor but joined the army in 1791.
- He served as an aide to General “Mad Anthony” Wayne, helping defeat Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
- He was appointed governor of the Indiana Territory in 1800.
- He led troops against Shawnee Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.
- He became a national war hero for fighting Native Americans on the frontier.
- “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” was his famous presidential campaign slogan.
- At age 68, he was the oldest president to be elected until Ronald Reagan.
- He only served 30 days as president before dying of pneumonia.
Harrison had a long military and political career before becoming president in 1841. He remains the first and only president to die while in office.
Who took over after Harrison’s death?
When William Henry Harrison died on April 4, 1841, the vice president John Tyler automatically became president. At the time, there was debate about whether the vice president fully assumed the office or was just acting president.
Tyler firmly established the precedent of the “Tyler Precedent” by taking the oath of office and serving as the 10th President of the United States for the remainder of the term. There was no constitutional provision for succession at the time.
John Tyler’s Presidency
John Tyler served as president from April 4, 1841 to March 4, 1845, completing Harrison’s unfinished term. However, Tyler was not universally accepted as the legitimate president. His opponents referred to him as the “Acting President” or “His Accidency”.
Key facts about John Tyler’s presidency:
- First vice president to replace a deceased president.
- Set precedent that vice president fully assumes presidency.
- Served 1,284 days after Harrison’s death.
- Had no vice president for his full tenure.
- Signed the resolution annexing Texas as a state.
- First president subject to impeachment proceedings.
Though his presidency was controversial at the time, Tyler helped establish the clear line of succession from vice president to president that still exists today.
How long was Harrison president?
William Henry Harrison had the briefest term of any U.S. president. Here is an overview of how long he served:
- Inauguration Date: March 4, 1841
- Date of Death: April 4, 1841
- Length of Presidency: 30 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes
So in total, Harrison was president for only 30 days before dying of pneumonia and septic shock. He gave the longest inaugural speech but served the shortest term.
Harrison still holds the record for the shortest presidency in U.S. history. The next shortest was James Garfield who served 199 days before being assassinated. Most presidents serve either one or two full 4-year terms.
Impact of Harrison’s short presidency
Although very brief, William Henry Harrison’s presidency had several important impacts on American history:
- First president to die in office, establishing presidential death protocols.
- Briefest term of any president at just over 30 days.
- First constitutional succession of the vice president to president.
- John Tyler’s unofficial ascendancy established the “Tyler Precedent”.
- Demonstrated flaws in the Constitution’s succession process.
- Settled the debate about “acting” versus actual president.
- Caused a brief economic panic due to uncertainty.
- Led to passage of the 25th Amendment on succession rules.
So despite his very short time in office, Harrison’s untimely death established critical precedents around presidential succession that had lasting impacts. It also highlighted the need for clearer constitutional protocols when a president dies or is incapacitated in office.
Other early presidential deaths
While William Henry Harrison was the first president to die in office, he was not the last. Several other presidents passed away during their terms:
| President | Date of Death | Cause of Death | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Henry Harrison | April 4, 1841 | Pneumonia and septic shock | 68 |
| Zachary Taylor | July 9, 1850 | Cholera morbus | 65 |
| Abraham Lincoln | April 15, 1865 | Assassination | 56 |
| James Garfield | September 19, 1881 | Assassination infection | 49 |
| William McKinley | September 14, 1901 | Assassination | 58 |
| Warren Harding | August 2, 1923 | Heart attack | 57 |
| Franklin Roosevelt | April 12, 1945 | Cerebral hemorrhage | 63 |
| John F. Kennedy | November 22, 1963 | Assassination | 46 |
This highlights that while rare, presidents sometimes pass away before their terms end due to natural causes like illness or assassination. William Henry Harrison was the first but not the last.
Lasting legacy of Harrison’s presidency
Despite having the shortest term, William Henry Harrison left behind an important presidential legacy:
- First presidential death – Created urgent need for succession protocols.
- Tyler Precedent – Set tradition of VP becoming president, not “acting.”
- Spotlighted succession flaws – Led to passing 25th Amendment on succession.
- Tested Constitution – First major constitutional crisis around succession.
- Established precedent – Showed VP takes over after president’s death.
Harrison’s abrupt death just one month into his term forced the nation to confront flaws in the Constitution regarding presidential succession. This led to establishing critical protocols that were eventually codified in the 25th Amendment in 1967.
So while his presidency was incredibly short, it set precedents that defined and strengthened the office of the president for the future. Harrison proved instrumental in shaping the succession process we still use today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, William Henry Harrison was the first President of the United States to die in office. He passed away on April 4, 1841, just 31 days after his inauguration, from pneumonia and septic shock. Harrison’s tenure was the shortest of any president, having served only 30 days before dying.
His refusal to wear warm clothing at his outdoor inauguration in cold weather contributed to him contracting his fatal illness. Harrison’s death established the precedent of presidential succession, with Vice President John Tyler taking over the office. This “Tyler Precedent” settled the constitutional question about whether the VP only becomes “acting president.”
Though brief, Harrison’s presidency created urgent new need to define succession protocols, which led to the passing of the 25th Amendment over 100 years later. So while his time in office was incredibly short, William Henry Harrison’s untimely death shaped the U.S. presidency in important ways that still impact the office today.