Mr. Harrison is the record holder for shortest term in office: 31 days. Pneumonia and out. The campaign was longer than the term. He is also the most successful president, as measured by the number of screwups under his administration.
The Presidency wasn’t good for some generals. Harrison’s subordinate in the War of 1812, Zachary Taylor, became President four years latter and died in office.
Historians now doubt the traditional wisdom that William Henry Harrison died from pneumonia as a result of catching cold while giving a long inaugural address outdoors with no hat or overcoat. It seems more likely the cause of death was enteric fever, caused by typhoid or paratyphoid bacteria. If so, he probably contracted the disease from the White House water supply. The White House at the time was next to a leach field (a place for raw sewage to seep into the ground), and also about seven blocks downstream from a “night soil repository” (i.e., a dump for human excrement removed from the city’s houses and other buildings).
More details here:https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/what-really-killed-william-henry-harrison.html
richsolano about 5 years ago
Well, it’s good to be remembered for SOMETHING, I guess….
6.6TA about 5 years ago
Mr. Harrison is the record holder for shortest term in office: 31 days. Pneumonia and out. The campaign was longer than the term. He is also the most successful president, as measured by the number of screwups under his administration.
jerumulligan1 about 5 years ago
Happy 246th birthday, WHH!!!!!
GaryCooper about 5 years ago
Harrison’s supporters went from town to town pushing an enormous ball, and saying “keep the ball rolling.”
https://thelittleguysays.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/there-was-a-giant-william-henry-harrison-ball/
GaryCooper about 5 years ago
Cover version from They Might Be Giants:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IFaRklAYanY
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr about 5 years ago
Presidential Campaigns: A Cartoon History 1789-1976
http://www.indiana.edu/~libsalc/cartoons/1840.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~libsalc/cartoons/photos/14F.jpg
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member about 5 years ago
As usual, this strip and comments are educational. I hadn’t heard about the giant ball.
And congrats to Brian.
ChristopherBurns about 5 years ago
The Presidency wasn’t good for some generals. Harrison’s subordinate in the War of 1812, Zachary Taylor, became President four years latter and died in office.
Charlie Tuba about 5 years ago
What is the tune for this song in 6/8? I was thinking “The Liberty Bell” by Sousa but the words don’t fit.
Smitty about 5 years ago
wonder what was Side B on that hit record?
GaryCooper about 5 years ago
Historians now doubt the traditional wisdom that William Henry Harrison died from pneumonia as a result of catching cold while giving a long inaugural address outdoors with no hat or overcoat. It seems more likely the cause of death was enteric fever, caused by typhoid or paratyphoid bacteria. If so, he probably contracted the disease from the White House water supply. The White House at the time was next to a leach field (a place for raw sewage to seep into the ground), and also about seven blocks downstream from a “night soil repository” (i.e., a dump for human excrement removed from the city’s houses and other buildings).
More details here:https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/what-really-killed-william-henry-harrison.html
GavinHamilton about 5 years ago
A small point but interesting – the isolated and not very educated Americans of 1840 knew a little Spanish – “loco”.