251

c. 1840 William Henry Harrison Silhouette Printed Cloth Textile Not in Threads

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,600.00 USD
c. 1840 William Henry Harrison Silhouette Printed Cloth Textile Not in Threads
Political
Impressive William Henry Harrison Silhouette Printed Cloth Textile Not Recorded in “Threads of History”
c. 1840, William Henry Harrison, Handsome Full Standing Portrait Silhouette on Printed and Hand-Stitched Color Silk on Cloth Framed Display, Choice Extremely Fine.
William Henry Harrison was the 9th President of the United States, in office March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841. This historic Printed Silhouette of an elderly Harrison on cloth measures 9.25” x 6.75” and has been tastefully framed with a mat to an overall size of 13” x 10.25”. The backgrounds rich toning contrasts nicely with the black silhouette of Harrison, shown looking out of an open window. In three distinct areas, Hand-stitching with silk thread has been used to embellish the image. The curtains, to Harrison’s left, as well as the painting hanging above Harrison, are given texture with the thread. The vase on the mantle of the fireplace features at least five different shades of threading for the floral arrangement. Centered on the fabric in printed text, as well as on a nameplate attached to the frame itself, is “William Henry Harrison.” This extremely rare William Henry Harrison Silhouette Silk textile is the first we have offered. Type Not Recorded in “Threads of History.”
William Henry Harrison Sr. (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was the 9th President of the United States (1841), an American military officer, and the last President born as a British subject. He was 68 years, 23 days old at the time of his inauguration. He died of complications from pneumonia 31 days into his term, serving the shortest tenure in United States presidential history.

He was the first president to die in office, and his death sparked a brief constitutional crisis. Its resolution left many unsettled questions following the presidential line of succession in regard to the Constitution until the passage of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1967.

He was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, who served as the 23rd United States President from 1889 to 1893. Before election as president, Harrison served as the first congressional delegate from the Northwest Territory and the first Governor of Indiana Territory.

He gained national fame for leading U.S. forces against Native Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, where he earned the nickname "Tippecanoe" (or "Old Tippecanoe"). As a general officer in the subsequent War of 1812, his most notable action was in the Battle of the Thames in 1813. This battle resulted in the death of Tecumseh and the dissolution of the Indian coalition which Tecumseh had led.

After the war, Harrison moved to Ohio, where he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. In 1824, the state legislature elected him to the United States Senate. He served a truncated term after being appointed as Minister Plenipotentiary to Gran Colombia in May 1828. In Santa Fe de Bogotá, he spoke with president Simón Bolívar, urging Bolívar to guide his nation toward American-style democracy.

Returning to his farm in Ohio, Harrison lived in relative retirement until he was nominated for the presidency as one of several Whig Party candidates in the election of 1836. He received more votes than any other Whig, but was defeated by Democrat Martin Van Buren. He retired again to his farm.

Van Buren soon became a major target of criticism from the Whigs surrounding economic difficulties following the Panic of 1837. Seeking to run a non-controversial and less ideological war hero who could defeat Van Buren based on popularity, a unified Whig Party nominated Harrison over party founder Henry Clay and fellow general Winfield Scott. John Tyler of Virginia was selected as his running mate. Harrison and Tyler defeated Van Buren in the 1840 election. However, Harrison died of pneumonia in April 1841, a month after taking office. Tyler then assumed all of the powers and duties of the president, setting a major precedent.