Signature of William Henry Harrison

What it is

This is a reproduction of Harrison's signature, printed in an 1892 reference work. The image shows the handwritten cursive name 'Wm H Harrison' in black ink, with large loops and a long underline stroke, on a white background. The record describes it as the signature of the 9th president of the United States.

Why it matters

A signature is one of the few things a person wrote with their own hand, so it gives a direct link to Harrison himself. Because this is a printed reproduction made decades after his death, it shows his handwriting but not the original page. Signatures were often used to confirm official documents of the time, which is why they are collected and reproduced.

Look closer

• What can you learn about Harrison from the style and the flourishes of his handwriting?
• Why might a reference work of 1892 include a signature from the 1840s?
• What does a signature show, and what does it leave out about the person who wrote it?