When William Harrison was elected president in 1841, he was 68 years old. His father had signed the Declaration of independence. His grandson, Benjamin, would later become president, too.

As a young man, William was well educated. He attended university and studied medicine for a short time. William quit his studies. He joined the army. Harrison helped settle the frontier that later became the state of Ohio.

When William Harrison became president he wanted to show the people of the United States that he was in good health. He walked to the store everyday.

Just before he took the oath of the President, he rode a horse in a parade for two hours. It was winter. The day was cold and rainy. He gave a very long speech that lasted two hours. He did not wear gloves, hat, or coat. He caught a cold.

His cold got worse and turned into pneumonia. The pneumonia killed him. William Harrison was president for only one month. This was the shortest term of any president.