Anna Harrison

Anna Harrison

  • Bio: Anna Tuthill Harrison (née Symmes; July 25, 1775 – February 25, 1864), wife of President William Henry Harrison and grandmother of President Benjamin Harrison, was nominally First Lady of the United States during her husband's one-month term in 1841, but she never entered the White House. At the age of 65 years during her husband's presidential term, she is the oldest woman ever to become First Lady, as well as having the distinction of holding the title for the shortest length of time, and the first person to be widowed while holding the title. She was the last First Lady to have been born in British America.
    In sending her daughter-in-law Jane Harrison in her stead, it is not clear whether Anna Harrison did so to at least ensure that there would be a female presence and companion for the new President at the Inauguration as they anticipated his greeting thousands of well-wishers for him - the first chief executive elected from the Whig Party - or to serve at all White House functions.
    By education and experience, Anna Harrison was well-qualified to serve as hostess herself. No primary sources indicate her intentions. She was in good health and preparing to leave by stagecoach from Ohio to Washington when a courier arrived at the Harrison farm with the shocking news that the President had died. Anna Harrison remained in Ohio since she would not have arrived in time for the funeral services and temporary interment in the Congressional Vault of her late husband in Washington, D.C. had she attempted the arduous and lengthy trip there. Harrison's body was later buried in North Bend, Ohio.
  • Born: July 25, 1775, Morristown, New Jersey
  • Died: February 25, 1864 (aged 88) North Bend, Ohio
  • Ancestry: English
  • Religion: Presbyterian
  • Education: Clinton Academy
  • Career: Teacher

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