John Tyler
| John Tyler | |
|---|---|
| File:John Tyler Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 10th President of the United States |
| In office | April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 |
| Vice President | None |
| Preceded by | William Henry Harrison |
| Succeeded by | James K. Polk |
| Born | March 29, 1790 Charles City County, Virginia, United States |
| Political Party | Whig (expelled 1841); later unaffiliated |
| Spouse | Letitia Christian Tyler (m. 1813–1842) Julia Gardiner Tyler (m. 1844–1862) |
| Children | 15 |
| Profession | Lawyer, planter, politician |
| Alma mater | College of William & Mary |
| Signature | 
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John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the 10th president of the United States (1841–1845). He assumed office after the death of William Henry Harrison, asserting that a vice president who succeeds a deceased president becomes president in full, not merely “acting” president—establishing the vital Tyler Precedent later codified in the 25th Amendment.
Early Life and Education
Tyler was born into a politically prominent Virginia family and educated at the College of William & Mary. Admitted to the bar, he practiced law and managed plantation interests.
Early Political Career
A strict constructionist, Tyler served in the Virginia House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives (1816–1821), and as Governor of Virginia (1825–1827). He later represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate, breaking with the Jacksonian Democrats over states’ rights and executive power.
1840 Election and Vice Presidency
In 1840, the Whigs nominated war hero Harrison for president with Tyler—chosen to balance the ticket—famously marketed as “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” They won decisively. After Harrison’s death on April 4, 1841, Tyler took the presidential oath, firmly claiming full presidential authority.
Presidency (1841–1845)
Tyler soon clashed with Whig leaders Henry Clay and Daniel Webster over a proposed national bank and tariff policy. He vetoed two bank bills, prompting his expulsion from the Whig Party and the resignation of most of his cabinet (Webster stayed briefly to conclude a major treaty). Without party backing, Tyler governed with a small coalition and frequent vetoes.
Texas Annexation and Foreign Affairs
- Annexation of Texas (1845): Tyler made Texas statehood his central objective in his final year, securing annexation by joint resolution of Congress shortly before leaving office.
- Webster–Ashburton Treaty (1842): Under Secretary of State Daniel Webster, the U.S. settled the Maine–New Brunswick boundary with Britain and improved anti–slave-trade cooperation and extradition rules.
- Strengthened Pacific interests and pursued commercial openings, foreshadowing later expansion.
Later Life and Civil War
Retiring to Virginia, Tyler chaired a Peace Conference in 1861 in a failed attempt to avert civil war. After secession began, he sided with the Confederacy and was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives but died before taking his seat.
Legacy
Historians view Tyler as a president of significant constitutional impact—his assertion of full succession set a durable precedent. Policy-wise, he is remembered for Texas annexation and the Webster–Ashburton settlement, but his break with the Whigs left him politically isolated. His Confederate allegiance darkened Northern perceptions of his legacy.