Wife of William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, Anna Harrison never assumed her duties as first lady, yet achieved many firsts among those who held this position. Not only was she the first in her position to receive a formal education, but she was, at age 65, the oldest woman to become first lady. Because she was the first widow while her husband was in office, Anna Harrison was the first former first lady to receive a pension. She was also the first to become a grandmother to the future president, Benjamin Harrison. Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison was born on July 25, 1775, in Morristown, Sussex County, New Jersey. She was the second daughter of John Cleves and Anna Tuthill Symmes. His father was a colonel in the Continental Army and later served as an associate justice before becoming chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He was also one of the largest landowners in the Northwest Territory. Just eight days before her daughter's first birthday, Anna Symmes died leaving her husband to raise their daughter alone. John raised his daughter alone for three years after his wife's death but, fearing that he could no longer care for her properly, he took her in from her maternal grandparents on Long Island. It was while living with her grandparents that Anna, short in stature with brown hair and eyes, attended Clinton Academy in Easthampton, New York, where she studied English and classics. She also attended Mrs. Graham's Boarding School for Young Ladies in New York City, NY. This was an unusually superior education for a woman of her time. In 1794, nineteen-year-old Anna joined her father and his third wife Susan Livingston Symmes in Cincinnati,...... middle of paper......and Benjamin, she decided not to accompany her husband to Washington for his inauguration . Instead, William asked his daughter-in-law, Jane Irwin Harrison, to go with him and act as hostess until Anna's delayed arrival in May. Before she could reach her husband, Anna received the news of his death. Thirty-two days into his term as president, William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia contracted while giving his inaugural address. Anna did not attend her husband's funeral. After her husband's death, Anna remained on the farm in North Bend until the house was destroyed by fire in 1858. She subsequently lived with her son John Scott Harrison, the father of future President Benjamin Harrison. Anna, who died in 1864 at age 88, became the first former first lady to receive a pension. She was buried in Congress Green Cemetery in North Bend, Ohio.