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Primary sourceSpeech13 April 1841

The Nation's Grief: A Funeral Address for William Henry Harrison

George Washington Doane · 13 April 1841

A funeral address delivered in Burlington in April 1841 mourning the death of President Harrison.

A funeral address mourning Harrison's death, showing the public reaction to his brief presidency.

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The Nation's Grief: A Funeral Address for William Henry HarrisonPDF · 38 pages
George Washington Doane, "The Nation's Grief: A Funeral Address," Burlington, 1841. Scanned book, Internet Archive.

About this source

What it is

This is a funeral address delivered by Bishop George Washington Doane before the citizens of Burlington on 13 April 1841, shortly after Harrison's death. It was printed soon after by J. L. Powell.

Why it matters

Harrison died only a month into his presidency, and this address shows how communities across the country publicly mourned him. It reveals the shock felt at losing a president so soon after his inauguration.

Look closer

  • What words does the speaker use to describe the nation's reaction to Harrison's death?
  • Why might a bishop be asked to give this kind of address?
  • What does the speed of this publication tell you about how news and grief spread in 1841?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Henry Harrison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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