Autographs
1794 William Henry Harrison Signed Manuscript Document
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON (1773-1841). 9th President of the United States, American Military Officer and Politician, First President to Die while in office, Harrison died on his 32nd day in office of complications from pneumonia, serving the shortest tenure in United States presidential history.
February 20-21, 1794-Dated Federal Period, Manuscript Document Signed, “Wm. H. Harrison, A.d.C.”, 1 page, measuring 8” x 5”, well written on period laid paper, Greenville [Northwest Territory], Choice Very Fine. This being a receipt for rations for a party of men belonging to nearby Fort Recovery, Signed here by Harrison as “Aide-de-Camp” to General "Mad Anthony" Wayne in the Northwest Indian War. Later this same year he would fight in the final battle of that War, the Battle of Fallen Timbers in present day Maumee, Ohio. Margins are somewhat uneven, not affecting any writing. Expected light folds and some tone. Harrison’s signature is crisp dark brown and prominent, measuring a large 2.75” long at lower right. Overall, an excellent example of this future President’s autograph that has nice eye appeal for display.
William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841). Ninth President of the United States (1841), an American military officer and politician, and the last president born as a British subject. He was also the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when inaugurated, the oldest president to take office until Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Harrison died on his 32nd day in office of complications from pneumonia, serving the shortest tenure in United States presidential history. His death sparked a brief constitutional crisis, but its resolution left unsettled many questions following the presidential line of succession in regard to Constitution until the passage of the 25th Amendment in 1967. He was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, who was the 23rd President from 1889 to 1893.

Before election as President, Harrison served as the first territorial congressional delegate from the Northwest Territory, as Governor of the Indiana Territory, and later as a U.S. representative and senator from Ohio.

He originally gained national fame for leading U.S. forces against American Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, where he earned the nickname "Tippecanoe" (or "Old Tippecanoe"). As a General in the subsequent War of 1812, his most notable action was in the Battle of the Thames in 1813, which brought an end to hostilities in Upper Canada. This battle resulted in the death of Tecumseh and the dissolution of the Indian coalition which he led.

After the war, Harrison moved to Ohio, where he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. In 1824, the state legislature elected him to the U.S. Senate. He served a truncated term after being appointed as Minister Plenipotentiary to Colombia in May 1828. In Colombia, he spoke with Simón Bolívar, urging his nation to adopt American-style democracy.

Returning to his farm in Ohio, Harrison lived in relative retirement until he was nominated for the presidency in 1836. Defeated, he retired again to his farm. He was elected President in 1840, and died of pneumonia in April 1841, a month after taking office.