The shortest serving U.S. president was William Henry Harrison.
William Henry Harrison's Brief Presidency
William Henry Harrison holds the distinct record for the shortest tenure in the history of the United States presidency. He was the ninth President of the United States, inaugurated on March 4, 1841.
- Term Length: President Harrison served for a mere 32 days.
- Circumstances: He became the first U.S. president to die in office, succumbing to pneumonia on April 4, 1841.
- Historical Context: At the time of his inauguration, Harrison was the oldest president to be elected, a record that stood for many years.
His sudden death led to a constitutional crisis regarding presidential succession, which was ultimately resolved by Vice President John Tyler assuming the presidency, establishing a crucial precedent for future transitions of power.
To illustrate just how brief his term was compared to other historically short presidencies, consider the following:
| President | Term Start | Term End | Days in Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Henry Harrison | March 4, 1841 | April 4, 1841 | 32 |
| James A. Garfield | March 4, 1881 | Sep. 19, 1881 | 199 |
| Zachary Taylor | March 5, 1849 | July 9, 1850 | 492 |
For more detailed information on William Henry Harrison's life and his time in office, you can explore resources from the official White House archives.
