Historical1773
William Henry Harrison Born
William Henry Harrison was born in Charles City County, Virginia, the last president born as a British subject before American independence. He would serve as the ninth President of the United States for only 31 days before dying of pneumonia, prompting the first presidential succession crisis.
Why It Matters
Harrison's death in office tested the constitutional provision for presidential succession and established the precedent that the Vice President becomes the full President, not merely an acting one, a principle later codified by the 25th Amendment.