1. Anna Tuthill Harrison was the first lady of the United States in 1841 as the wife of President William Henry Harrison.
46 Facts About Anna Harrison
1. 2.
Anna Harrison served in the role for only one month, as her husband contracted pneumonia and died shortly after his term began.
3.
Anna Harrison never entered the White House during her tenure as first lady, remaining the only presidential wife to never visit the capital during her husband's presidency.
4.
At age 65 when her husband's presidential term began, Anna Harrison was the oldest woman ever to assume the role of first lady, a record held until Jill Biden became first lady at age 69 in 2021.
5.
Anna Harrison has the distinction of holding the title for the shortest length of time, and the first first lady to be widowed while holding the title.
6.
Anna Harrison was the last first lady to have been born before the inauguration of George Washington.
7.
Anna Harrison was the only First Lady of the United States to have been the wife of one US President and the grandmother of another US President.
8.
Anna Harrison was raised by her grandparents on Long Island and given an education better than any other first lady had yet received.
9.
Anna Harrison married military officer William Henry Harrison against her father's wishes in 1795, and she raised their family of ten children in the frontier of Ohio and Indiana while William pursued a political career.
10.
Anna Harrison became first lady when William became president in 1841, though she did not attend his inauguration.
11.
William died while Anna Harrison was preparing to travel to Washington, DC, only one month into his term.
12.
Anna Harrison lived the remainder of her life in Ohio, first in their family log cabin, and then with her only surviving son.
13.
Anna Harrison's father was an associate justice on the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
14.
Anna Harrison's mother died on her first birthday, leaving her father to raise her alone.
15.
Anna Harrison's education was religious in nature, as her grandparents raised her to be a Presbyterian.
16.
Once the war ended in 1783, Anna Harrison's father paid her a brief visit in New York before relocating to the Northwest Territory.
17.
Anna Harrison reunited with her father in 1794 at the age of 19 when she moved to the Northwest Territory to live with him in the town that he had established there: North Bend, Ohio.
18.
Also present was her stepmother, Susannah Livingston, with whom Anna Harrison got along well.
19.
Anna Harrison's father disapproved of the courtship because of Harrison's military career.
20.
Symmes and Anna Harrison decided to elope while her father was away on business.
21.
Anna Harrison's father was displeased, and weeks went by before he finally spoke to his new son-in-law, demanding to know how he would support a family with Anna Harrison.
22.
Anna Harrison eventually campaigned on his behalf and named him an executor of his estate.
23.
Anna Harrison accompanied William when he returned to the nearby Fort Washington where he was stationed.
24.
Anna Harrison lived the traditional life of an army wife, including the associated travel with her husband.
25.
Anna Harrison felt lonely in Vincennes because of the distance from her extended family; the opportunity to meet visiting national figures provided little consolation.
26.
Anna Harrison had five more children during her time in Indiana.
27.
Anna Harrison took her children to live with her father during the War of 1812, as William was again serving in the military.
28.
Anna Harrison spent much of the 1810s and 1820s alone, as William had a successful political career that took him to the United States Congress, the Ohio Senate, and the diplomatic mission to Colombia.
29.
Anna Harrison educated their children, eventually founding a school in North Bend.
30.
Anna Harrison was hesitant when her husband expressed an ambition to be president of the United States, and she was upset by his presidential runs in the 1836 and 1840 presidential elections.
31.
Anna Harrison's participation continued until the death of another of her sons in 1840.
32.
William was inaugurated as president in 1841, but Anna Harrison did not accompany him to Washington; she was feeling unwell, and the journey would involve harsh weather.
33.
Anna Harrison instead sent Jane Irwin Harrison, the widow of their late son, to serve as acting first lady.
34.
Anna Harrison chose not to make the journey, forgoing his state funeral.
35.
Anna Harrison likewise lobbied the following president, James K Polk, to give military commissions to her grandsons.
36.
Anna Harrison was granted a pension by the federal government in June 1841, which she spent paying her late husband's debts.
37.
Anna Harrison became more involved in politics and religion in her later years.
38.
In 1855, Anna Harrison's cabin was destroyed in a fire, and she spent her final years living with her son John.
39.
Anna Harrison died on February 25,1864, at the age of 88.
40.
Anna Harrison was buried beside her husband in North Bend.
41.
Anna Harrison was the first woman widowed while first lady, and was followed by a long series of wives of presidents unwilling or unable to carry out the duties associated with the role.
42.
Anna Harrison did not develop a significant reputation as first lady, as her husband died before she arrived at the White House.
43.
Anna Harrison was the last first lady to be born before the inauguration of George Washington, and the first to receive a formal education.
44.
Anna Harrison was the oldest woman to become first lady at the time, doing so at the age of 65.
45.
Anna Harrison held this record until 2021, when Jill Biden became first lady at the age of 69.
46.
Anna Harrison holds records due to her husband's short term: she served the shortest tenure of any first lady, only holding the title for 31 days, and she is the only first lady to have never been to the capital during her husband's presidency.