John Tyler

(PD) Image: N. Currier / Library of Congress
John Tyler

John Tyler, Jr. (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was a United States politician and the tenth President of the United States (1841-1845). He was vice president to William Henry Harrison and succeeded him as president when Harrison died. Tyler was the first Vice President to succeed the presidency by the death of the previous president, and was given the nickname "His Accidency" by detractors.

Before becoming president, he was the governor of Virginia and a senator from that state. He was initially a member of the Whig Party when becoming president, but later expelled from the party due to his staunch adherence to the principle states' rights and a limited federal government.

Early life

Tyler was born in Charles City County, Virginia, on March 29, 1790. He graduated from College of William and Mary in 1807, in the age of seventeen. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1809. Among those who taught him law was America's first Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Tyler disagreed with Randolph as Randolph support a strong central government while Tyler is deeply suspicious of federal power, fearing the northern industrialists and working class would use the central government to weaken the interests of Southern planters. In 1811 he started his legal practice and was known for his effective handling of criminal defense cases.

Political career

Between 1911 and 1816 Tyler served in Virginia State House of Delegates, and was a member of the council of state in 1816. In 1813 he was also the captain of a military company. In 1816 when Congressman John Clopton died, Tyler took over his seat in the House of Representatives. In the House Tylor opposed the nationalist legislations, particularly Henry Clay's "American System of internal improvements. He also spoke against the passage of Missouri Compromise. He declined renomination in 1821 due to health issues in 1820 and stepped down from the House in 1821.

In 1823 Tyler returned to the Virginia legislature, serving until 1825, when he became the Governor of Virginia. His governorship was uneventful and ended in 1827 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. During the senate years he went back to Virginia in 1829 and 1830 to attend the state constitutional convention there.

When he first entered the Senate, he was a Jacksonian Democrat. However, later he switched to the faction that opposed President Jackson. This is partly due to his strict constructionist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and his staunch opposition to excessive federal power. Tyler resigned from Senate in 1836, and again returned to state legislature in 1839.

In 1940 he ran for Vice President on the Whig Party ticket with William Henry Harrison. Though his political views deviated from the Whig party line, but he was selected to appeal to Southern voters. The Harrison-Tyler ticket used the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too" and won the election. Tyler was the vice president in 1941 for a month until Harrison died in office. During that period, Harrison's cabinet was largely dominated by powerful Whig politicians such as Henry Clay and Daniel Webster.

Presidency

After Harrison's death, Tyler became the President of the United States. His administration was marked by the bitter clash between the strict constructionist president and the nationalist Congress with support from the Whig cabinet. He vetoed the National Bank bill twice when it came to his table. He also vetoed a protective tariff, but later approved a softened tariff measure. In 1845, however, the Congress successfully overrode Tyler's veto of another tariff bill, the first time it has overridden a presidential veto in history.

Responding to Tyler's stubborn gesture, the Whig cabinet staged a mass resignation in protest, and in the House of Representatives there was even an impeachment attempt on Tyler after he vetoed one of the tariff bills. The committee led by John Quincy Adams asserted that Tyler misused the veto power but did not succeed in moving to initiate an impeachment trial. Tyler installed Southern supporters of states' rights such as John C. Calhoun, to the cabinet in later years of his presidency.

In terms of foreign policy, Tyler was relatively successful and his major accomplishments included the annexation of Texas and securing the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. Tyler did not seek re-election and stepped down from presidency in 1945. He was succeeded by James K. Polk, a Democrat.

Later life and legacy

(PD) Photo: Samuel H. Gottscho / Library of Congress
John Tyler's residence at Sherwood Forest, VA

Tyler largely retired from political arena after finishing his term as president. However, in 1861 he oversaw an unsuccessful peace convention to prevent the impending American Civil War. He then served in the Congress of Confederate States of America. Tyler died in 1862, in Richmond, Virginia.

The John Tyler Community College at Chester, Virginia was named after President Tyler. The city of Tyler, Texas was also named after him, to honor his effort in admitting Texas to the United States.

References

• White House official biography
• Congressional Biographical Directory
• John Tyler - Presidents of the United States, Internet Public Library
• John Tyler, Encyclopedia Americana

President of the United States

preceded by
William Henry Harrison

dates
1841-1845

succeeded by
James K. Polk