Library of Congress
- NAME – John Tyler
- NICKNAME(S) – His Accidency
- BIRTH / DEATH – March 29, 1790 Greenway, Va. / 1862 Richmond
- FATHER – judge
- MOTHER – housewife
- COLLEGE – William and Mary
- WIFE – Letitia / Julia
- KIDS – 15 – 7 boys, 8 girls (one died as an infant) his last was born when he was 70
- PETS – greyhound (Le Beau) / canary (Johnny Ty) / horse (The General)
- RELIGION – Episcopalian
- ANCESTRY – English
- AGE – 51
FIRSTS:
– first Vice President to become President
– first President to face impeachment (after he vetoed a tariff bill)
– first President who was widowed while in office
– first President to be married while in office
MA AND PA: He grew up on a 1,600 acre plantation. His father was a judge.
BACKGROUND:
– Virginia House of Delegates 1811-16
– Congressman 1817-21
– Governor of Virginia 1825-26
– Senator 1826-36
– Virginia House of Delegates Speaker of the House 1838-40
– loses race for Governor
– Confederate Congressman 1861
FIRST LADY: His first wife Letitia died after he became President. She was from a wealthy family. She raised their seven kids and ran the plantation when he was doing his politics. She suffered a stroke in 1839 and only appeared in public once as First Lady (for her daughter’s wedding). Julia was a wealthy debutante known as “The Rose of Long Island”. They connected after her father and the Secretary of State and two others were killed when a giant cannon on the USS Princeton exploded when the Presidential party was cruising. She started the tradition of playing “Hail to the Chief” when the President enters the room. In retirement, she wrote a letter supporting slavery.
RETIREMENT: He was elected to the Confederate Congress, but died one year later. He was buried with a Confederate flag draping his coffin.
TRIVIA:
– favorite food – Indian pudding = spice and ice cream
– Tyler was on his knees playing marbles (“knucks”) when he learned that Harrison had passed away
– although technically a Whig, as President he opposed most Whig legislation. His cabinet, inherited from Harrison, all resigned except Daniel Webster. He was taunted as a President without a party. So his wife gave him a big party before he left office.
ANECDOTES:
A PROLIFIC PRESIDENT
John Tyler had 15 kids. The first was Mary, born on April 15, 1815. The last was Pearl, born on June 13, 1860 – 45 years later! His first 8 children were by his first wife Letitia Christian. They were married for 29 years before she became the first First Lady to die in the White House. Two years later, he became the first President to marry in the White House when he married the much younger Julia Gardiner. The groom was 30 years older. Julia was five years younger than Mary! They had seven kids, the last when Tyler was 70 years old! He died two years later. Julia survived for another 27 years.
– Shenkman 78
THE PRESIDENT BE DASHED!
Tyler was very unpopular by the time his Presidency ended, even with members of his Whig Party. When he and his family (and his slaves) arrived at the pier of the steamboat that would take them home, the boat was pulling away. Some in the crowd yelled at the captain to stop for the President’s retinue. The captain refused saying: “Ex-President Tyler be dashed. Let him stay!”
– Boller 97