Which president was the first to die in office?

• A. John Tyler
• B. William Henry Harrison
• C. Martin Van Buren
• D. Andrew Jackson

Answer: (B)

The moment being tested is who was the first U.S. president to die while in office. William Henry Harrison holds that distinction, dying in 1841 after only about a month in office. His death created the first clear scenario of presidential succession: the Vice President would become President. John Tyler, Harrison’s vice president, stepped into the presidency and served as the new chief executive, establishing the precedent that the office passes to the vice president. The other names listed either did not die in office or never assumed the presidency as a result of an in-office death.