Remembering John Tyler
On January 18, 1862 (162 years ago today) John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, died in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 71. Because he died during the Civil War, while living in Virginia, one of the Confederate States, he was not accorded the same honors at the time of his death as afforded to other presidents and is the only president whose death was not officially recognized in Washington D.C. Debate continues today as to whether Tyler was a traitor to his nation or a good man caught in the middle of unfortunate circumstances.
John Tyler was born on March 14, 1790, in Charles City County, Virginia. He was the first president born after the adoption of the Constitution, and he was also born in the same county as William Henry Harrison, the man for whom he would serve as Vice-President of the United States for a scant 31 days.
In his native Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before winning election as Vice President in 1840 on a ticket with Harrison. Harrison was renowned as the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe and was affectionately known as "Old Tippecanoe." Together the two of them were referred to in a famous campaign song as "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" Although Tyler had once been a Democrat, he and Harrison defeated Andrew Jackson's anointed successor Martin Van Buren in the election of 1840 under the Whig banner. Tyler served as Vice-President for only 31 days and became president upon the death of Harrison on April 4, 1841. Because there was no precedent for what happened when a president died in office up to that time, Tyler became the first Vice President to succeed to the office of President on the death of the incumbent. He was also the first person to become President without ever being elected to that office. He asserted his right to the office in the face of opposition from members of both parties, some of whom derisively called him "His Accidency."
Tyler was a strong supporter of states' rights, something that endeared him to his fellow Virginians but alienated him from most of the congressional movers and shakers in Washington. Opposition from both the Democrats and Whigs in Congress hamstrung his presidency. As President, Tyler opposed much of the Whig platform and vetoed several Whig party proposals including Henry Clay's plans for a national bank. As a result of this conflict, most of his cabinet resigned, and the Whigs expelled him from their party. In spite of this he was still able to achieve a number of foreign-policy accomplishments, including the Webster-Ashburton Treaty with Britain and the Treaty of Wanghia with Qing China. He was also able to orchestrate the annexation of the independent Republic of Texas during his last days in office. He wanted to seek election to a full term in 1844, but he had alienated both the Whigs and Democrats and his efforts to form a new party failed to attract significant support.
Tyler essentially retired from electoral politics until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. He unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a peace between the two sides, and when that was unsuccessful he sided with the Confederate government, and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives shortly before his death. It is not surprising that he sided with the Confederacy, given his strong support for states' rights throughout his lifetime.
Tyler has the distinction of being the President who fathered the most children: fifteen with two wives. His first wife Letitia died in 1842, and two years later, in 1844, he married 24 year old Julia Gardiner, a woman who was 30 years younger than him. One of his grandsons is still living as of this writing.
On January 12, 1862, after complaining of chills and dizziness, in Richmond, Tyler vomited and collapsed. He was revived, but the next day he repeated the same symptoms. His condition did not improve, and he made plans to return to his home (called Sherwood Forest) on the 18th. On the night of the 17th he began suffocating, and his wife Julia called for his doctor. Just after midnight, Tyler took a last sip of brandy, and told his doctor, "I am going. Perhaps it is best." He died early on the morning of the 18th. It is believed that he had suffered a stroke.
Tyler is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, in front of the gravesite of former President James Monroe. Tyler's death was the only one in presidential history not to be officially recognized in Washington, because of his allegiance to the Confederacy. He had requested a simple burial, but Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered a grand, politically charged funeral, at which Tyler was portrayed as a hero to the Confederacy. Tyler's coffin was draped with a Confederate flag.
John Tyler was born on March 14, 1790, in Charles City County, Virginia. He was the first president born after the adoption of the Constitution, and he was also born in the same county as William Henry Harrison, the man for whom he would serve as Vice-President of the United States for a scant 31 days.
In his native Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before winning election as Vice President in 1840 on a ticket with Harrison. Harrison was renowned as the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe and was affectionately known as "Old Tippecanoe." Together the two of them were referred to in a famous campaign song as "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!" Although Tyler had once been a Democrat, he and Harrison defeated Andrew Jackson's anointed successor Martin Van Buren in the election of 1840 under the Whig banner. Tyler served as Vice-President for only 31 days and became president upon the death of Harrison on April 4, 1841. Because there was no precedent for what happened when a president died in office up to that time, Tyler became the first Vice President to succeed to the office of President on the death of the incumbent. He was also the first person to become President without ever being elected to that office. He asserted his right to the office in the face of opposition from members of both parties, some of whom derisively called him "His Accidency."
Tyler was a strong supporter of states' rights, something that endeared him to his fellow Virginians but alienated him from most of the congressional movers and shakers in Washington. Opposition from both the Democrats and Whigs in Congress hamstrung his presidency. As President, Tyler opposed much of the Whig platform and vetoed several Whig party proposals including Henry Clay's plans for a national bank. As a result of this conflict, most of his cabinet resigned, and the Whigs expelled him from their party. In spite of this he was still able to achieve a number of foreign-policy accomplishments, including the Webster-Ashburton Treaty with Britain and the Treaty of Wanghia with Qing China. He was also able to orchestrate the annexation of the independent Republic of Texas during his last days in office. He wanted to seek election to a full term in 1844, but he had alienated both the Whigs and Democrats and his efforts to form a new party failed to attract significant support.
Tyler essentially retired from electoral politics until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. He unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a peace between the two sides, and when that was unsuccessful he sided with the Confederate government, and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives shortly before his death. It is not surprising that he sided with the Confederacy, given his strong support for states' rights throughout his lifetime.
Tyler has the distinction of being the President who fathered the most children: fifteen with two wives. His first wife Letitia died in 1842, and two years later, in 1844, he married 24 year old Julia Gardiner, a woman who was 30 years younger than him. One of his grandsons is still living as of this writing.
On January 12, 1862, after complaining of chills and dizziness, in Richmond, Tyler vomited and collapsed. He was revived, but the next day he repeated the same symptoms. His condition did not improve, and he made plans to return to his home (called Sherwood Forest) on the 18th. On the night of the 17th he began suffocating, and his wife Julia called for his doctor. Just after midnight, Tyler took a last sip of brandy, and told his doctor, "I am going. Perhaps it is best." He died early on the morning of the 18th. It is believed that he had suffered a stroke.
Tyler is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, in front of the gravesite of former President James Monroe. Tyler's death was the only one in presidential history not to be officially recognized in Washington, because of his allegiance to the Confederacy. He had requested a simple burial, but Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered a grand, politically charged funeral, at which Tyler was portrayed as a hero to the Confederacy. Tyler's coffin was draped with a Confederate flag.