Profile of the Day: John Tyler

On this day in 1790, John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, was born. Tyler succeeded to the presidency after the death of President William Henry Harrison, who passed just one month into his presidency.

Image: John Tyler / Library of Congress

Tyler was born to a prominent and influential Virginian family on March 29, 1790. His father, John Tyler, Sr., was a wealthy planter and judge. He served as the 15th Governor of Virginia.

In 1840, William Henry Harrison was elected the 9th President of the United States with Tyler as his vice president. When Harrison died just one month into his presidency, Tyler became the first vice president to be sworn into the presidency due to the death of his predecessor. He was dubbed “His Accidency” by his opponents for being the first to step into the presidency without being elected.

Two years after his wife, Letitia, died in the White House, Tyler married his second wife, Julia Gardiner in 1844. The wedding would mark another first for Tyler, who became the first president to marry while in office. They would go on to have 7 children together. In fact, Tyler still has one living grandson!

Explore John Tyler’s family tree and share how you’re related to the 10th President of the United States.

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