HISTORY

President Harrison President William Henry Harrison  A native of Virginia, was born into a family that owned slaves back in 1773. His father, Benjamin Harrison V, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. During his teenage years, Harrison briefly attended an academy in Southampton County where he became involved with the antislavery Quakers and Methodists. This did not sit well with his pro-slavery father, who then had him transferred to Philadelphia to study medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush. However, Harrison did not find an interest in medicine and did not complete his training due to his father's passing shortly after he arrived in Philadelphia in 1791, leaving him without funds for further education. Following the death of his father, 18-year-old Harrison joined the US Army as an ensign. Two years later, in 1793, his mother passed away, and Harrison inherited a portion of the family's estate, including approximately 3,000 acres of land and several slaves. ...

  Julia Tyler The enchantress of the nation's capital, Julia Gardiner Tyler, captured the heart of the tenth President, John Tyler. After their clandestine engagement and wedding, she gracefully assumed the role of First Lady from 1844 to 1845. "I lament that my love should be considered a belle," sighed one of Julia Gardiner's countless admirers in 1840. At the young age of 20, she was already renowned as the "Rose of Long Island." Being the daughter of Juliana McLachlan and David Gardiner, who were descendants of affluent and influential families in New York, Julia had been groomed since early childhood for a life in high society. She made her debut at 15 and later embarked on a European tour with her family, which exposed her to dazzling social splendors. In late 1842, the Gardiners ventured to Washington for the winter social season, where Julia quickly became the undisputed darling of the capital. Her breathtaking beauty and practiced charm captivated ...

Letitia Tyler Letitia Tyler Letitia Christian was born on a beautiful Tidewater Virginia plantation on November 12, 1790, to Mary and Colonel Robert Christian. Although she didn't have a formal education, Letitia mastered all the skills needed to manage a plantation, oversee enslaved people, raise a family, and run a home that would become John Tyler's sanctuary throughout his bustling political career. They tied the knot on March 29, 1813—his 23rd birthday. From then on, whether he served in Congress or as the governor of Virginia, she diligently attended to domestic responsibilities and preferred to stay out of the limelight. Only once did she join him for the winter social season in Washington. Letitia gave birth to nine children, and fortunately, seven of them thrived into adulthood. Letitia Tyler had limited influence over her husband's presidency, as she was mainly confined to the living quarters of the White House. Despite playing no public role, she managed to main...