General Discussion

President William Henry Harrison died because of his long speech in cold weather is oft repeated, but almost certainly untrue. There have been a few medical historians that have looked at this in recent years, and it appears exceedingly likely died from the White House water supply (in that era, untreated human waste was routinely dumped near a public water supply six blocks away). At the time the flu and/or pneumonia was the catch all used when doctors couldn't figure out what someone died of.

Harrison seemed healthy as a horse for about three weeks after his inauguration and only in late March came down ill, so even if he did die of pneumonia, it is more likely a result from one of his daily walks.