The Best Books To Learn About President William Henry Harrison
(You can view the rest of our presidential Best Book lists by going to our Best US President Books page, or for a more in-depth look at how we found and ranked the books you can visit our Best Book About Every United States President article.)
William Henry Harrison Quick Facts |
President Number | 9 |
Terms In Office | 1/48th |
Years | 1841-1841 |
Political Party | Whig |
Vice President | John Tyler |
Home State | Ohio |
Slaves Owned | 11 |
Presidential Pet | Cow (Sukey) |
Campaign Slogan | “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” |
Articles Used in Ranking | 12 |
Number of Unique Books | 15 |
Happy Scrolling!
The Best Books About William Henry Harrison (Tie)
(Appears on 6 Lists Each)
Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer: William Henry Harrison by Robert Owens
- At Times Dull
- Best Presidential Bios
- Library of Congress
- Mashable
- Presidents USA
- The Tailored Man
Often remembered as the president who died shortly after taking office, William Henry Harrison remains misunderstood by most Americans. Before becoming the ninth president of the United States in 1841, Harrison was instrumental in shaping the early years of westward expansion. Robert M. Owens now explores that era through the lens of Harrison’s career, providing a new synthesis of his role in the political development of Indiana Territory and in shaping Indian policy in the Old Northwest.
Old Tippecanoe: William Henry Harrison and His Time by Freeman Cleaves
- All The Presidents Books
- Best Presidential Bios
- Library of Congress
- Mandi Lindner
- Presidents USA
- The Washington Post
Freeman Cleaves’s great achievement in this book is to describe this life in dramatic prose that captures much of the excitement of a young nation expanding westward in the early 19th century. Primarily a military historian, Cleaves focuses on Harrison’s tenure as territorial governor of Indiana and his service as a general in the War of 1812, a period that served as the foundation for his subsequent political prominence.
#3-4 Books
(Appear on 2 Lists)
The Presidencies of William Henry Harrison & John Tyler by Norma Lois Peterson
- Library of Congress
- Presidents USA
Wearied by the hotly contested “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign that unseated the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren, Harrison succumbed to pneumonia after only one month in office, the first chief executive to die in the White House. His death precipitated a governmental crisis, which Vice President John Tyler promptly resolved—to the consternation of his Whig Party—by claiming the office and title of president, thus setting a precedent that only later was codified in the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
William Henry Harrison (The American Presidents Series) by Gail Collins
- Library of Congress
- The Washington Post
William Henry Harrison died just thirty-one days after taking the oath of office in 1841. Today he is a curiosity in American history, but as Gail Collins shows in this entertaining and revelatory biography, he and his career are worth a closer look. The son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Harrison was a celebrated general whose exploits at the Battle of Tippecanoe and in the War of 1812 propelled him into politics, and in time he became a leader of the new Whig Party, alongside Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. But it was his presidential campaign of 1840 that made an indelible mark on American political history.
#5-15
(Appear on 1 List)
Eulogy on the Private and Public Character, and Public Services of the Late President Harrison by Benjamin Parsons
- Library of Congress
Goodbye, Old Tippecanoe: William Henry Harrison and His One Month Presidency by Keith W. Norris
- Presidents USA
For 32 days in 1841, William Henry Harrison was the President of the United States of America. His election in 1840 followed one of the rowdiest, most colorful, and most memorable presidential campaigns in history. A month after his inauguration, he was dead. It was the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting president died in office, and the voters who placed their hopes in “Old Tippecanoe” were devastated. This book examines Harrison’ rise from military hero and public servant to the highest office in the land, his often misunderstood illness and death, the nation’s response to his death, and his lasting legacy.
Sketches of the Civil and Military Services of William Henry Harrison by Charles Stewart Todd
- Library of Congress
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
The Life and Times of William Henry Harrison by Samuel Jones Burr
- Presidents USA
Today, William Henry Harrison is best known for holding the presidency for the shortest amount of time and dying about a month after his inauguration speech, but he was one of the most important Americans of his day. Like many presidents in the 19th century, he rose to fame and fortune as a general, first for his decisive actions at the Battle of Tippecanoe and then in the subsequent War of 1812.
Twelve Against Empire: The Anti-Imperialists, 1898-1900 by Robert L. Beisner
- Presidents USA
William H. Harrison by Paul Joseph
Lists It Appears On:
- Presidents USA
This series discusses the highlights and issues of each president’s time in office. The straightforward narrative provides key facts from early childhood to retirement, while emphasizing international and historical perspectives.
William Henry Harrison and the Conquest of the Ohio Country: Frontier Fighting in the War of 1812 by David Curtis Skaggs
- Presidents USA
In his study of William Henry Harrison, David Curtis Skaggs sheds light on the role of citizen-soldiers in taming the wilderness of the old Northwest. Perhaps best known for the Whig slogan in 1840―”Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”―Harrison used his efforts to pacify Native Americans and defeat the British in the War of 1812 to promote a political career that eventually elevated him to the presidency.
William Henry Harrison: A Political Biography by Dorothy Burne Goebel
Lists It Appears On:
- Library of Congress
William Henry Harrison: General and President by Mary Jane Child Queen
- Library of Congress
William Henry Harrison: Ninth President of the United States by Christine Maloney Fitz-Gerald
- Presidents USA
William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe by Howard S. Peckham
- Presidents USA
Originally published in 1951, this biography of the childhood years of America’s ninth president, William Henry Harrison, details the boyhood adventures and character of young Tippecanoe prior to his assumption of the highest office. The story opens with young Harrison’s rousing rescue of sister Sally from drowning when he was just seven, followed soon after by an account of Harrison’s quick thinking as he saved his uncle from bleeding to death following an accident. The famous battle at Tippecanoe is also reviewed, as are many more events and actions that young history buffs will enjoy.
The Best William Henry Harrison Book Lists Consulted
Source | Article |
All The Presidents Books | One Through Forty-Two or Forty-Three |
At Times Dull | Janet’s Presidential Biography Project & Blog |
Best Presidential Bios | The Best Presidential Biographies |
Huffington Post | Presidents’ Day History: The Must-Reads Of Presidential Biographies |
Library of Congress | Selected Bibliography |
Mandi Lindner | 44 Presidents and Their Definitive Biographies |
Mashable | Why I’m spending a year reading about every U.S. president |
Presidential History | Presidential Resources |
Presidential History (Again) | Pulitzer Prize Winning Books About Presidents |
Presidents USA | FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON |
The Tailored Man | The 44 Best Presidential Biographies |
The Washington Post | The Fix’s list of best presidential biographies |