Theodore Roosevelt: Twenty-Sixth President 1901-1909 Theodore Roosevelt was the second of four children. He was born in New York City on October 27, 1858 of Dutch, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French and German heritage. Partially due to poor health, he suffered from Asthma and bad vision, he was educated by tutors until he entered Harvard College, where he received his B.A. degree in 1880. At Harvard he also achieved membership in Phi Beta Kappa. To gain strength, he taught himself to ride, box and shoot, and he developed an early interest in natural history and military affairs. On October 27, 1880 he married Alice Hathaway Lee. His ha