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John Tyler, "His Accidency"

‘His Accidency’, John Tyler our 10th President (1841 – 1845)

John Tyler was dubbed by his detractors as the ‘Accidental President’, and was also renown as ‘His Accidency’. The Whig party chose him as their Vice Presidential candidate, more or less with the intention of using Tyler as a political pawn to draw votes from the South. However, when President William Harrison died exactly 30 days after assuming office, it was a whole new chess game. ‘His Accidency’ was now in charge…

John Tyler was a very diplomatic, courteous individual, and a bit like Jimmy Carter in the area of negotiating peace. Though Tyler was gracious, mild-mannered and charming, his administration was set on a stormy course from start to finish.

Originally a Democrat, Tyler opposed some of Old Hickory’s (Andrew Jackson) policies and became a Whig in 1940, the year of the Presidential election. Many Southern Democrats joined him in this move and to capture these precious votes, Tyler was the Whig’s Vice Presidential pick.

When newly elected President Harrison delivered his inaugural speech, an hour and forty-five minute fiasco in the blistering cold weather, verbosity ended up costing him his life. A nasty cold turned into pneumonia and thirty days to the date that he took office, Harrison died.

Everything suddenly changed. Opinions of John Tyler were erratic and politically, he had nothing but enemies. This stemmed from his staunch convictions supporting states’ rights and his strict interpretation of the Constitution, which satisfied neither the Democrats nor the Whigs.

Tyler was suddenly a man without a party. The words of Whig leader Henry Clay offer the best depiction of the mood at that time: “If a God-directed thunderbolt were to strike and annihilate the traitor, all would say that Heaven is just.”

The suddenly ‘partyless’ Tyler shocked Congress, and there was no precedent. The Cabinet went as far as to suggest that Tyler call himself the Vice President of the United States, acting President. Good-natured Tyler simply dismissed the concerns and calmly stated his presidential rights outlined under the Constitution, thereby establishing the precedent for future Vice Presidents called to the office.

Amid the political bashing, Tyler’s life was also rocky on the homefront. His wife, warm and gracious Letitia, was an invalid. Tyler had planned to fill the undemanding duties as Vice President from his home in Williamsburg by his wife. Of course, Harrison’s death also changed that plan. Her daughter-in-law, Pricilla Cooper Tyler, graciously assumed duties as White House Hostess, a spirited and successful aspirant.

Letitia was the first President’s wife to die in the White House, ending her days on September 10, 1842 at age 52, peacefully holding a damask rose in her hand, and deeply mourned by her family.

Although John Tyler was in his fifties, he still looked very young for his age. On June 26, 1944, not quite two years after Letitia’s death, he married Julia Gardiner, a woman thirty years younger than he was, a decision that gained the curiosity of the nation. Tyler referred to Julia as, “Most beautiful woman of the age and…most accomplished.” They would share a very deep, loving relationship.

Tyler had eight children with Letitia, and seven with Julia. Their youngest child, Pearl, was conceived when Tyler was 70 years old. There was an age difference of 45 years between his first child with Letitia in 1815, and his last child, Pearl, born in 1860 just two years before his death.

John Tyler was very happy with Julia and when the White House days ended, they took up residence in their family home, Sherwood Forest in Virginia. Ironically, this home was previously owned by President Harrison for a short time in the late 1700’s. It stands today and spans over 300 feet and is the longest wood-framed house in America.

From the time Julia married John in 1844, she would help lay to rest 7 of his 15 children; little Anne had died in infancy. When John Tyler died in 1862, Julia took his loss very hard. The beautiful and gracious Julia died in 1889, almost 30 years after John’s death.

John Tyler's Accomplishments as President

- Reorganized the Navy to establish the nucleus of the present Naval Observatory and to promote a national telegraph system

– which became the center of the Weather Bureau;

- Ended the costly Seminole Indian wars;

- Webster-Ashburton Treaty which established the boundary of Maine and Canada;

- Ended Dorr’s Rebellion in Rhode Island;

- Negotiated treaty with China to open ports for first time;

- Annexed Texas on his last day in office.

Personal Facts About John Tyler

Born: March 29, 1790

Died: January 18, 1862

Occupation: Lawyer

Children of John Tyler & their ages at death:

(With Letitia)

Mary Tyler, (33) 1815 – 1848

Robert Tyler, (61) 1816 – 1877

John Tyler, (77) 1819 – 1896

Letitia Tyler, (86) 1821 – 1907

Elizabeth Tyler, (27) 1823 – 1850

Anna Contesse Tyler, (infant) 1825

Alice Tyler, (27) 1827 – 1854

Tazewell Tyler, (44) 1830 – 1874

Children of John Tyler & their ages at death:

(With Julia)

David Gardiner Tyler, (81) 1846 – 1927

John Alexander Tyler, (35) 1848 – 1883

Julia Gardiner Tyler, (22) 1849 – 1871

Lachlan Tyler, (51) 1851 – 1902

Lyon Gardiner Tyler ,(82) 1853 – 1935

Robert Fitzwalter Tyler, (71) 1856 – 1927

Pearl Tyler, (87) 1860 – 1947

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