Anna Harrison

Anna Tuthill Harrison (née Symmes) was born on July 25, 1775, in Morristown, New Jersey. She was the second child of Anna Tuthill and John Cleves Symmes. Her mother died when she was one year old, and her father, an associate justice on the Supreme Court of New Jersey, raised her. During the American Revolutionary War, her father served as a colonel in the Continental Army and transported her to Long Island for safety, possibly disguised as a British soldier. She was subsequently raised by her maternal grandparents on Long Island.

Her early education included attendance at Clinton Academy in East Hampton and a private school run by Isabella Graham in New York City. Her upbringing emphasized religious education within the Presbyterian faith. After the war ended in 1783, her father moved to the Northwest Territory, and Anna reunited with him in 1794 at the age of 19, when she moved to North Bend, Ohio, to live with him. Her stepmother was Susannah Livingston, with whom she reportedly got along well.

In 1795, Anna Symmes married William Henry Harrison, a military officer, despite her father's disapproval. The marriage took place on November 25, 1795, with Dr. Stephen Wood officiating. The ceremony's exact location is disputed. Her father was displeased initially but later supported Harrison, entrusting him as an executor of his estate. Following their marriage, Anna accompanied William to Fort Washington, where he was stationed, and lived the life typical of an army wife, traveling with him as required.

William Henry Harrison resigned from the army in 1798, and they settled in North Bend, Ohio, where Harrison purchased land and built a log cabin for their family. They had ten children, born between 1796 and 1814. Eight of these children died during her lifetime, with the first child born in 1796, and the last in 1814, who died in 1817. Her children included John Scott Harrison, who later became a U.S. Congressman and was the father of President Benjamin Harrison.

William Harrison's political career progressed, and he served in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 1799, prompting the family to relocate to Philadelphia. Later, they moved to Vincennes, Indiana, where William was appointed territorial governor. During this period, Anna was engaged in reading political newspapers and journals, and she became involved in her community, despite feelings of loneliness due to geographical isolation. She further expanded her family with five additional children in Indiana.

During the War of 1812, Anna moved her children to her father's residence for safety while William served in the military. She joined the First Presbyterian Church during this time. After the war, the Harrisons moved their home to North Bend, Ohio, on land inherited from her father, which they called "the Bend." William Harrison's political career included service in Congress, membership in the Ohio Senate, and a diplomatic mission to Colombia. Their finances suffered due to family expenses and debts accumulated by their children.

Anna Harrison's involvement in her husband's presidential campaigns in 1836 and 1840 was significant; she contributed her political knowledge and hosted supporters at their North Bend home. Despite her efforts, William Harrison was elected president in 1841, and she became First Lady at age 65, making her the oldest woman to assume the role up to that point. She did not attend the inauguration, feeling unwell, and she did not visit the White House during her husband's short presidency. William Harrison contracted pneumonia and died shortly after his inauguration, only one month into his term, rendering Anna a widowed First Lady.

She resided afterward in Ohio, living initially in their log cabin and later with her surviving son, John Scott Harrison. Her brief tenure as First Lady, her absence from the White House, and the loss of her personal papers in a fire have contributed to her limited historical recognition and scholarly analysis.

**Early Life and Education:** Anna Tuthill Symmes was born on July 25, 1775, in Morristown, NJ. Her mother died on her first birthday, and her father, John Cleves Symmes, served as a Supreme Court justice. During the Revolutionary War, her father transported her to Long Island for safety. She was educated at Clinton Academy and Isabella Graham's school in New York City, with a focus on religious instruction.

**Marriage and Family:** Anna married William Henry Harrison on November 25, 1795. The marriage occurred despite her father's disapproval. The couple's first child was born in 1796, and they had a total of ten children. Her children included John Scott Harrison, who was a U.S. Congressman and the father of President Benjamin Harrison.

**Political and Personal Life:** The Harrisons moved frequently, including residencies in Philadelphia, Richmond, Virginia, and Vincennes, Indiana. Harrison served as a territorial governor and in other political roles. Anna was active in her community, educated her children, and managed household affairs amidst economic challenges. She became involved in her husband's political campaigns, offering political insights and hosting supporters.

**First Lady of the United States:** William Harrison was elected president in 1840 and inaugurated in 1841. Anna was 65 years old at the time, making her the oldest woman to serve as First Lady. She did not attend the inauguration and remained in Ohio, feeling unwell. She served as First Lady for only one month before her husband's death. She was the first First Lady to be widowed during her tenure, and she did not visit the White House during her husband's presidency.

**Later Life and Death:** After her husband's death, Anna lived in Ohio, first in North Bend and later with her surviving son. She died on February 25, 1864, at the age of 88. Her personal papers were lost in a fire, which has contributed to her limited presence in historical scholarship.