CABINET. PRESIDENTS: WILLLAM HENRY HARRISON, Ohio. 1841. JOHN TYLER, Virginia. VICE-PRESIDENT: JOHN TYLER, Virginia. 1841. 1841 SECRETARIES OF STATE: DANIEL WEBSTER, Massachusetts. 1841. HUGH S. LEGARE, South Carolina. 1843. JOHN NELSON, Maryland. 1843. 1844. JOHN C. CALHOUN, South Carolina. 1845. SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. 1841. JOHN C. SPENCER, New York, 1841. JAMES M. PORTER, Pennsylvania. WILLIAM WILKINS, Pennsylvania. 1844. 1843. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, Kentucky. CHARLES A. WICKLIFFE, Kentucky. 1841. ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. HUGH S. LEGARE, South Carolina. 1841. 1841. WILLIAM H. HARRISON. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States, was the youngest son of Benjamin Harrison, one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the Governors of Virginia. William Henry, was born on the ninth of February, 1773, at Berkeley on the James River, Virginia. He was educated at Hampden, Sydney College, Va., and applied himself to the study of medicine as a profession, but before its completion, he gave up his studies, and joined the army raised for the defence of the Ohio frontier against the Indians. He received his commission of Ensign in a regiment of artillery, from Gen. Washington, in 1791, and in 1792, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He soon after joined the new army under the command of 146 WILLIAM H. HARRISON General Anthony Wayne at Pittsburgh, and remained with him some years, engaged in many battles with the Indians, at, and about Fort Washington, where Cincinnati now stands. After the campaign, which resulted in a treaty of peace with the Indians, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and soon after, at the age of twenty-one, he married the daughter of John Cleves Symmes, the founder of the Miami Settlements. In 1797, he was appointed by President Adams, Secretary, and ExOfficio, Lieutenant-Governor of the North Western Territory. In 1799, he was elected by the legislature of that territory, their first delegate to Congress at the age of twenty-six. Subsequently, the new territory of Indiana was established, which included what are now the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, over which he was appointed Governor, and also Superintendent of Indian affairs, and Commander-inchief of the militia. He held the office of Governor for a period of thirteen years, having been successively appointed by Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, at the earnest solicitation of the people of the territory. He concluded many treaties with the Indians, and at one time obtained from them the cession of over 50,000,000 of acres, lying between the river Illinois and the Mississippi. In 1811, he fought the memorable and desperate battle of Tippecanoe, and was very active in the war of 1812. In 1816, he was elected to represent the Congressional District of Ohio, in the House of Representatives of the United States, and subsequently held many other offices. In 1839, he was nominated for the Presidency, by the National Convention of Whig delegates, who had assembled at Harrisburgh, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. He received 234 Electoral votes against 60 for Mr. Van Buren. The inauguration of General Harrison took place on the 4th of March, 1841, but his administration, however, was very brief. On the 27th of March, he was seized with a severe illness, which terminated his life on Sunday morning the 4th of April, just one month after his inauguration, in the sixtyeight year of his age. JOHN TYLER. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, was born in Charles City County, Virginia, on the 29th of March, 1790. His ancestors were among the early English settlers of the Old Dominion. His father was one of the patriots of the Revolution, and devoted himself to its success. At a very early age, Young Tyler was very much attached to his studies, and was so precocious, that he entered William and Mary College at the age of twelve years, and graduated when he was but seventeen. He commenced the study of law, and at nineteen years of age, was admitted to the bar, no objection having been raised as to his age. In 1811, he was elected a member of the House of Delegates, and took his seat in the Virginia Legislature, where he remained several years, and until 1816, when he was elected to Congress, then being but twenty-six years of age, and was twice re-elected, but by reason of ill health, was finally obliged to resign, and returned to the practice of his profession. Mr Tyler was elected Governor of Virginia, in December, 1825, and during his administration, he urged forward, and greatly encouraged internal improvements, and many of the finest works in the State, were commenced, and completed, through his instrumentality. He was subsequently re-elected Governor, but before his term of office had expired, he was elected a Senator, having defeated John Randolph. On the accession of Gen'l Jackson to the Presidency, Mr. Tyler supported his administration in many particulars, but yet, at times, took an independent course. With the nullifiers of South Carolina, he also sympathised; and when the President took his position against the anti-tariff and nullifying proceedings of that State, he withdrew his support from the Administration, acting with Mr. Calhoun, and contending for State Rights. In 1839, he was elected one of the delegates from Virginia, to the Whig National Convention, at Harrisburg, and exerted his influence in favor of the nomination of Henry Clay, who was defeated by General Harrison, the nominee. It was deemed necessary by the Convention, after the nomination of Harrison, that the candidate for the Vice-President should be a Southern man, and without much reflection, it was offered to Mr. Tyler, who accepted. On the 6th of April, 1841, after the death of General Harrison, Mr. Tyler took, and subscribed an oath of office, and then issued an inaugural address, to the people of the United States. He took such a course, however, that he lost the confidence of the party who nominated him, without gaining that of his political opponents, and in the late great rebellion, he took part with the enemies of the Republic. In 1813, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Tyler married Miss Letitia Christian, a lady much esteemed, and a member of the Episcopal Church. She died at Washington, in 1842. While President of the United States, he was again married to Miss Julia Gardiner, daughter of David Gardiner of New York. He died in Richmond, Virginia, on the 18th of January, 1862. |