Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison was the wife of William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. She took the title of First Lady of the United States since she was married to the president, but she never entered the White House throughout her husband’s one-month administration in 1841. As a result, she has the distinction of having held the title for the shortest period. She was also the first woman to be widowed while serving as First Lady, having been 65 years old when her husband was elected President. Anna Harrison was a simple, home-loving woman who was completely dedicated to being a decent wife and a responsible mother. She had a difficult childhood due to the loss of her mother at a young age. She fell in love with Lieutenant William Henry Harrison, an army officer, when she was 20 years old and decided to marry him. Despite her father’s vehement opposition, the young woman eloped with Harrison. She eventually reconciled with her father and went on to have ten children while remaining a happy housewife. Her husband became president and she became the First Lady considerably later in life.
Childhood and Adolescence
She was born on July 25, 1775, in Sussex County, New Jersey, to John Cleves Symmes, a New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice who had previously served as the Colonel of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Anna Tuthill Symmes, her mother, died while she was a child. Maria was her only sibling.
Anna was taken to her maternal grandparents Henry and Phoebe Tuthill in Suffolk County, Long Island when her father was unable to care for her alone.
She spent her childhood and youth with her grandparents, where she acquired a superb education. She attended Clinton Academy before transferring to Isabella Marshal Graham’s Boarding School. When she was 13, she moved in with her father and stepmother.
Lieutenant William Henry Harrison was in town on military business when she traveled to visit family in Kentucky in 1795. They started courting one another after falling in love.
Because of William’s military career, Anna’s father fiercely opposed the connection, believing that the young man would not adequately care for his daughter. As a result, the young couple eloped and married.
A Years Later
She was a typical woman with no plans beyond the confines of her household. She was a devoted wife and a kind mother to her numerous children. She was engaged in the church community in addition to her family responsibilities.
William was frequently stationed away from home due to his military employment. She dutifully handled the family and reared the children throughout such periods marked by her husband’s absence.
Her husband was elected to Congress as a Territorial Representative in 1799, and she joined him in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a visit to his relatives in Richmond, Virginia.
William was named Territorial Governor of Indiana a few years later, in 1801. She and her children relocated to Indiana, where her husband constructed a solid residence for the family.
Despite the fact that the couple had many servants, Anna was given direct responsibility for the household, which included her enormous family. She was also responsible for the financial administration of the couple’s assets.
As an educated woman, she took an active role in her children’s education, teaching them reading, writing, and religious studies. She also taught the kids about Greek philosophy and Shakespeare’s plays.
During this time, her husband’s political career was on the rise, and she had to play hostess to the various political and military figures, including Vice President Aaron Burr, who came to consult with William Harrison.
In both 1836 and 1840, William Harrison was drafted as the Whig candidate for President. In 1840, he won a landslide election and was sworn in as the ninth President of the United States on March 4, 1841. However, his presidency was short-lived, since he died only a month later.
Anna went to live with her son John Scott after her husband died. A sum of $25,000 was given to her as a president’s widow’s pension.
Personal History and Legacy
She married William Harrison on November 25, 1795, after eloping with him. Despite her father’s initial opposition to her choice, he gradually came to like and respect his son-in-law for his strong character.
She has 10 children and raised them as a caring and responsible mother. She had a close relationship with her spouse and enjoyed her responsibilities as a wife.
Several of her children perished in before of her eyes, causing her a great deal of grief. Her husband died in 1841 as well. She outlived her husband for several years, dying at the age of 88 on February 25, 1864.
Estimated Net Worth
Anna is one of the wealthiest politicians and one of the most popular. Anna Harrison’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
This was the first First Lady of the United States to have a formal education.