Early Albany Merchant Writes Friend About William Henry Harrison's Untimely Passing

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON was the ninth president of the United States from March 4 to April 4, 1841, serving the shortest term in history. Harrison contracted pneumonia during his inauguration. His death caused a brief constitutional crisis as presidential succession was not fully defined in the U.S. Constitution. Harrison was the son of Benjamin Harrison V, who was a U.S. Founding Father, and was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd U.S. President.

3 pp, 8 x 10, ALS, Albany, 17th April, 1841, written by John A. Bardwell of Albany, about two weeks after Harrison’s death. Bardwell writes to Morris E. Hall of West Bloomfield, Ontario County, NY. Integral address leaf.  Bardwell was an early New York merchant who writes of moving his business to a larger location, seeking additional orders and then discusses the untimely death of President Harrison and Vice President John Tyler’s likely assumption of the presidency.

“...We removed our store from 75 to 66 State St. We have now fitting up a splendid & large store & are daily expecting a large invoice from Liver pool. Our glass has arrived. I am now under the necessity of asking you to assist us by way of customers as you know we are a new house & consequently have to work ourselves into a business as best we may. Your brother Justus obliged us by an order last fall. Mr. Beckenston purchased of us about 4400 worth last fall & I hope they may continue their patronage. We shall endeavor to sell at the same prices they do in N.Y. Will you try & pressure Mr. Hamlin to purchase of us this spring & your Brother at Dansville & others who are good...

“Our good President by the Providence of God has been taken from us. The Legislature & very many of our citizens wear crape in honor of the departed. Present circumstances indicated that President Tyler will carry out the principals of Gen. Harrison. If so, we may eventually have better times. I sincerely hope it may be so & have no doubt but that it will. Please make my best respects to your mother & Justus...”

JOHN TYLER, a Virginian slave owner and lifelong Democrat, had been added to Harrison’s presidential ticket to encourage southerners to vote for Harrison. He soundly defeated President Van Buren. Tyler took the oath of office to become President and assumed all presidential authority immediately but quickly found himself at odds with leaders in the Whig Party. His veto of legislation that would revive the Second Bank of the United States sparked a visceral reaction from politicians and citizens alike. The Whig Party cast Tyler out and most of his cabinet resigned over the episode. At the same time, his Democratic friends no longer trusted him. His unpopularity led his critics to nickname him “His Accidency.” Tyler was not nominated to run again. A few days before he left office, Tyler signed legislation to annex Texas, an expansionist policy goal he had pursued since becoming president and probably his most notable achievement.

Folds, light toning. Small seal tear effecting very little. Fine Address leaf with a red postmark. 

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