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John Tyler10th President of the USA
Date of Birth: 29.03.1790
Country:  USA |
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Biography of John Tyler
John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, became the first president to assume office not through election, but as vice president following the death of the incumbent. Hailing from Virginia, he studied law and served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1821. During the debates on the Missouri Compromise, he expressed his opposition to slavery in principle, but also opposed the Union's right to regulate or prohibit slavery in individual states. From 1825 to 1827, he served as the Governor of Virginia, and from 1827 to 1836, he was a senator from the same state.
Political Career
Tyler joined the newly formed Whig Party, contradicting his previous actions, and became a member. In 1840, he was nominated as the Whig Party's candidate for vice president and was elected to this position. On March 4, 1841, he assumed his duties as vice president, and on April 4, 1841, he became president following the death of William Henry Harrison. Tyler interpreted the Constitution in a way that the vice president, upon the president's death, becomes the acting president and not just an interim leader. This legal precedent remained in effect until 1967 when an amendment to the Constitution was made.
Presidency
Tyler failed to meet the expectations of his party and instead leaned towards the Democrats in his governance. He vetoed several Whig bills, which led to the resignation of the cabinet appointed by Harrison in July 1841. Tyler was forced to rely more openly on the Democrats, which caused significant dissatisfaction. In many places, his portraits were ceremoniously burned at public rallies. However, Tyler continued his policies and until the end of his term in 1845, he remained in hostile relations with Congress.
Later Years
In 1861, after the southern states seceded from the Union, Tyler, being a Virginian, found himself among their ranks and was elected as a member of the Confederate Senate. His life was chronicled by his son, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, in a book published in Richmond in 1884.
Personal Life
Tyler was married twice, and during his presidency, he remarried a woman 30 years younger than him, making him the first president to marry while in office. He had a total of 15 children from his two marriages, more than any other president in U.S. history. His youngest child, Pearl (1860-1948), was 45 years younger than his eldest daughter, Mary (1815-1848), and lived for 100 years after her.
