He was so looking forward to this moment. The old warrior made a powerful propaganda action from the inauguration and himself played the main role. For an unforgettable day, the triumph had to pay with his life.
It was easier for his contemporaries to believe that the famous politician had been ruined by an Indian curse than that constant wars were not going to good. The biography of this man is a series of general battles in which he literally gnawed his victory with his teeth. Sooner or later, the fighting should have ended.
Childhood
Planter Benjamin Harrison from Virginia was an outstanding person. It is difficult to meet a freethinker and a throat in the midst of the rich. In addition to extensive possessions and good income from them, this gentleman had a large friendly family. His wife Elizabeth gave birth to seven children. The youngest of them was William Henry, born in February 1773.
The house in which William Henry Harrison was born
The kid still did not quite understand what fateful days he was going through and in what historical events his father took an active part. Colonies came out of British rule, Benjamin was among those who fought for freedom. In 1776, he was among those who signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1781, he was elected governor of the state. He wanted to see the youngest son as a general. The boy was given an education that would help him make a career in the army.
Youth
Military service for William Henry began in 1791. He tried to convince dad that he wanted to become a doctor, not a marshal, but his parent was adamant. The young man went to defend the north-eastern border. There was uneasy, periodically rebellions of the Indians broke out. They were supported by relatives from Canada and opponents of the independence of the United States from overseas. The authorities did not want to engage in dialogue with Native Americans, organizing bloody reprisals in response to disobedience and attacks on colonial settlements.
Portrait of William Henry Harrison. Unknown artist
A year after the start of the service, Harrison was appointed adjutant to General Anthony Wayne. This commander was nicknamed Mad for his penchant for radical measures. He began to aggressively oust the Indians from their lands, which increased the number of fighting skirmishes with the redskins. William Henry showed courage on the battlefield, for which he earned the respect of soldiers and officers. Now he himself believed that military affairs were his calling.
Soldafon in big politics
During one of his visits home in 1795, the young hero was informed by his parents that he was to marry. Anna Tathill Simms was elected to the role of the bride. The Harrison family in this young lady liked the fact that she was the daughter of the New Jersey Chief Justice. The news of the skirmishes with the Indians reached Virginia, and relatives were thinking about a safer place to work for their heir. William Henry became the husband of the girl chosen for him and did not lose. He was happy in his personal life, had 9 children in marriage.
Portrait of Anna Tathill Harrison. Unknown artist
Mad Anthony's ally resigned in 1798. Following his father's example, William Henry became involved in politics and was elected governor of a region called Indiana Territory. For the novice manager, the image of the defender of the country's white population from aggression by Aboriginal people and an advocate of traditional values was very important. He began to impose unprofitable contracts for the purchase of land on the Indians, which led to bloodshed. The belligerent governor was not re-elected for a new term.
Main battle
Having failed in big politics, Harrison returned to the troops. His activity led to the fact that several tribes united against European settlers. The warrior was led by the leader of the Shauni Tecumseh. In 1811, William Henry Harrison gathered an army, adding a militia to the regular regiments. His competent actions allowed to win at Tippecan.
The Indians retreated, but did not give up. About their charismatic leader heard overseas. The authority of Tecumseh and his confidence in victory aroused confidence among the British. When Congress declared war on London in 1812, he responded with financial assistance to the Redskins. This became known to the US leadership. The rebels were immediately declared accomplices of the British crown and enemies of the Fatherland. Garrison set off to confront the gangs that terrified American soldiers. He chased the leader for a year and overtook him in Canada. In the melee, Tecumseh died. Before his death, he cursed his enemy.
The death of Tecumseh. Vintage engraving
