10th U.S. President John Tyler

About the tenth President of the United States John Tyler, his birth, death, biography, description, facts and quotes.

10th President JOHN TYLER

Born: March 29, 1790, Charles City County, Va.

Died: January 18, 1862, in Richmond, Va.

Career: Studied law under Edmund Randolph (former U.S. Attorney General), admitted to bar at 19, elected to Virginia House of Delegates at 21, while his father served as governor. U.S. House of Representatives, governor of Virginia, U.S. senator.

Personal Life: After 29 years of marriage and 8 children, Tyler's wife, Letitia, died in the White House. The 52-year-old widower-President lost little time in developing new interests: Before his term was over, he had married Julia Gardiner, 23, a Washington belle with a spectacular hourglass figure. Julia bore him 7 more children, the last one when Tyler was 70.

His Person: An even 6' tall, with long limbs and a narrow chest, light brown hair and blue eyes. He had high cheekbones and a long, high-bridged nose. An accomplished violinist, and a lover of fine wines and poetry.

Election: In 1840, Tyler was named as the running mate for Gen. William Henry ("Old Tippecanoe") Harrison. In November, the Whig ticket of "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" swept to landslide victory.

Term of Office: April 6, 1841-March 4, 1845 (3 years, 333 days). Tyler was the 1st Vice-President to take office as President on the death of his predecessor. He vetoed 9 bills during his term-more than any previous one-term President, giving rise to the nickname "Old Veto."

Little-Known Facts: Tyler was the 1st President to be the subject of a serious impeachment attempt. On January 10, 1843, the House turned down a resolution of impeachment, which charged Tyler with gross usurpation of power. The final vote was 127 to 83.

Quotes about Him:

"Tyler is a political sectarian of the slave-driving, Virginian, Jeffersonian school, principled against all improvement, with all the interests and passions and vices of slavery rooted in his moral and political constitution."-John Quincy Adams

He looked somewhat worn and anxious, and well he might be, being at war with everybody."-Charles Dickens

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