Halloween Countdown, Day 5
Oct. 5th, 2013 07:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eldritchhobbitOn this day in spooky history, the seeds of a curse -- or at least its legend -- were planted.
The story begins with tragedy. On this day in 1813, exactly two centuries ago, the great pan-tribal leader Tecumseh fell at the Battle of the Thames. His ally, a British major-general, abandoned him to their foes and was later court-martialed for the disgrace.*
The leader of the U.S. forces who slew Tecumseh was William Henry Harrison, a future president of the United States. Harrison died of pneumonia only a month after taking office. Zachary Taylor, who also fought against Tecumseh in the War of 1812, was likewise elected to the presidency -- and he also died in office.
The legend grew and evolved, ultimately suggesting that on the day Tecumseh perished, his brother Tenskwatawa (a religious leader known as The Prophet) had cursed both William Henry Harrison and future White House occupants who were elected during years with the same ending number as Harrison's election.
For the next 120 years, presidents elected during years ending in a zero (which happens every 20 years) died while serving in office.
Election of 1840: William Henry Harrison - died in office of pneumonia
Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln - assassinated in office
Election of 1880: James Garfield - assassinated in office
Election of 1900: William McKinley - assassinated in office
Election of 1920: Warren G. Harding - died in office of heart attack or stroke
Election of 1940: Franklin Roosevelt - died in office of cerebral hemorrhage
Election of 1960: John F. Kennedy - assassinated in office
The election of 1980 "challenged" the curse; Ronald Reagan was seriously wounded by an assassination attempt while in office, but he survived.
The election of 2000 "broke" the curse; George W. Bush remained uninjured after an attempted assassination, when he was targeted while in office with a dud live grenade.
It's an eerie bit of history, isn't it?
Read more about the legend of Tecumseh's curse here.
* I find Tecumseh to be an important and fascinating figure, so much so that I wrote a biography of him for students.
On a related note, I'll be giving a talk about Tecumseh and his legacy (free and open to the public) at 10am on November 15 as part of the Native American History Month celebrations at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
The story begins with tragedy. On this day in 1813, exactly two centuries ago, the great pan-tribal leader Tecumseh fell at the Battle of the Thames. His ally, a British major-general, abandoned him to their foes and was later court-martialed for the disgrace.*
The leader of the U.S. forces who slew Tecumseh was William Henry Harrison, a future president of the United States. Harrison died of pneumonia only a month after taking office. Zachary Taylor, who also fought against Tecumseh in the War of 1812, was likewise elected to the presidency -- and he also died in office.
The legend grew and evolved, ultimately suggesting that on the day Tecumseh perished, his brother Tenskwatawa (a religious leader known as The Prophet) had cursed both William Henry Harrison and future White House occupants who were elected during years with the same ending number as Harrison's election.
For the next 120 years, presidents elected during years ending in a zero (which happens every 20 years) died while serving in office.
Election of 1840: William Henry Harrison - died in office of pneumonia
Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln - assassinated in office
Election of 1880: James Garfield - assassinated in office
Election of 1900: William McKinley - assassinated in office
Election of 1920: Warren G. Harding - died in office of heart attack or stroke
Election of 1940: Franklin Roosevelt - died in office of cerebral hemorrhage
Election of 1960: John F. Kennedy - assassinated in office
The election of 1980 "challenged" the curse; Ronald Reagan was seriously wounded by an assassination attempt while in office, but he survived.
The election of 2000 "broke" the curse; George W. Bush remained uninjured after an attempted assassination, when he was targeted while in office with a dud live grenade.
It's an eerie bit of history, isn't it?
Read more about the legend of Tecumseh's curse here.
* I find Tecumseh to be an important and fascinating figure, so much so that I wrote a biography of him for students.
On a related note, I'll be giving a talk about Tecumseh and his legacy (free and open to the public) at 10am on November 15 as part of the Native American History Month celebrations at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
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no subject
Date: 2013-10-05 11:20 am (UTC)I know so little about the eastern Native Americans. I think I'll have to pick up your book. :-)
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Date: 2013-10-05 04:47 pm (UTC)Aw, thank you! Tecumseh's story is a truly inspiring and tragic one. He's been called the Native King Arthur for good reason.
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Date: 2013-10-05 11:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-05 04:49 pm (UTC)Oooh, you're right about it making good fodder for a story! *looks at you imploringly* The tale goes that Nancy Reagan took the curse seriously, and after the election sought out advice from astrologists and other "consultants" on how to appease the curse and protect her husband. I have no idea if this is true, but certainly she made no secret about speaking to astrologists and believing in certain supernatural or paranormal phenomena.
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Date: 2013-10-05 10:53 pm (UTC)Quite
Date: 2013-10-05 04:37 pm (UTC)Re: Quite
Date: 2013-10-05 04:53 pm (UTC)Perish the thought! For historians, nothing is ever "over." *wink*
Re: Quite
Date: 2013-10-05 06:01 pm (UTC)Re: Quite
Date: 2013-10-05 06:22 pm (UTC)Your icon is soooo appropriate. I love it. ;)
Re: Quite
Date: 2013-10-05 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-05 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-08 10:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-05 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-08 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-06 06:55 am (UTC)http://boingboing.net/2013/10/05/gorgeous-ghoulish-penguin-hor.html
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Date: 2013-10-08 10:41 pm (UTC)