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(by Eric Pfeiffer, YahooNews.com) – Former President John Tyler, born 221 years ago, still has two living grandchildren. The one-term president isn’t a well-known historical figure; he’s probably best remembered for helping to push through the annexation of Texas in 1845, shortly before leaving office.
So, how is it possible that a former president who died 150 years ago would still have direct descendents alive today? As it turns out, the Tyler men were known for fathering children late in life. And that math is pretty outstanding when added up:
Both President Tyler and his son Lyon were married twice - their second wives, both much younger than their husbands, help explain the incredible time gap.
John Tyler was born in 1790. He became the 10th president of the United States in 1841 after William Henry Harrison died in office. Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler in 1853, at age 63. Then, at the age of 71, Lyon Gardiner Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. in 1924 and four years later at age 75, Harrison Ruffin Tyler. Both men are still alive today.
That means just three generations of the Tyler family are spread out over more than 200 years. President Tyler was also a prolific father, having 15 children (8 boys and 7 girls) with two wives. …
Some context on Tyler’s progeny [descendents]: Jane Garfield (granddaughter of James Garfield) is 99, making her the oldest living grandchild of a former president, even though Garfield took office 40 years after Tyler.
Former Ambassador John Eisenhower is the oldest living presidential child, turning 89 this past August.
A few other Tyler tidbits:
- He joined the South’s secession efforts shortly before his death and was even elected to the Confederate House of Representatives.
- Because of his Confederate ties, Tyler’s is the only presidential death not officially mourned.
- Tyler ascended to the presidency in 1841. Other things that happened that year: Canada became a nation; the United States Senate has its first filibuster, lasting nearly a month; the city of Dallas, Texas was founded.
- Tyler was the first person to ascend to the presidency through succession as vice president.
Reprinted here for educational purposes only. Visit news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/former-president-john-tyler-1790-1862-grandchildren-still-191230189.html for the original post.
Questions
1. What did you know about President John Tyler before reading this article? List 2 (or more) facts about President Tyler.
2. What slogan was used in the 1840 presidential campaign in which Tyler ran for vice-president on the ticket alongside presidential candidate William Henry Harrison?
3. What is President Tyler best remembered for, according to the reporter?
4. a) In what year was President Tyler born?
b) When did he die?
5. a) How many children did President Tyler have?
b) In what year was Tyler’s son Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. born?
c) When were President Tyler’s grandsons Lyon Gardiner Jr. and Harrison Ruffin born?
6. Today’s Daily News Article is a human interest story. Human interest stories differ from the regular news – they are sometimes referred to as “the story behind the story.” The major news articles of the day tell of important happenings. Human interest stories tell of how those happenings have impacted the people or places around the story. Major human interest stories are presented with a view to entertain the readers or viewers while informing them.
Do you think today’s article is a good human interest story? Explain your answer.
Background
- President Tyler was 63 when his son, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, was born…. And Lyon had his children even later; he was in his 70s when his sons were born. The boys’ mother, Sue Ruffin, was the second wife of Lyon Sr., who died in 1935.
- A profile of Harrison Ruffin Tyler done by Virginia Tech magazine in 2007 said he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1949 with a degree in chemistry and attended graduate school at Virginia Tech for engineering. He worked with Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corp. and co-founded an industrial water treatment firm, ChemTreat Inc., in 1968. He currently lives on Sherwood Forest Plantation, a national historic landmark in Virginia.
- In a profile by the Franklin, Tenn., chapter of the Lion’s Club, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. was honored as being a “faithful member” of the organization. Lyon Jr. also graduated from William and Mary and attended the University of Virginia Law School, practicing law in Virginia, FranklinLionsClub.com reported.
- Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. served as the director of the Virginia Civil War Centennial Commission from 1959-1963 and gave history lectures throughout the state, according to the Lions Club site. He later returned to school, receiving his Ph.D. in history at Duke University, the site reported. He resides in Tennessee. (from foxnews.com)
TYLER TIMELINE:
- March 29, 1790: John Tyler born in Greenway, Virginia
- 1807: graduated from William and Mary; Passed the Bar Exam and became lawyer two years later
- March 1813: Married first wife Letitia Christian
- 1811-1839: Served as United States representative, state governor and senator
- 1841: Became president, known as ‘His Accidency’ after the sudden death of William Henry Harrison
- 1853: Lyon Gardiner Tyler born; becomes historian
- January 18, 1862: President John Tyler dies, aged 71
- July 10, 1889: First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler dies, aged 69
- 1923: Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Sr., marries second wife Sue Ruffin, two years after first wife dies
- 1925: Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. born
- 1928: Harrison Ruffin Tyler born
- February 12, 1935: Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. dies, aged 81
Resources
Read about President Tyler at whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johntyler. (scroll down to the bottom of the page to read about President Tyler’s wives)
Read about President Tyler’s son Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon_Gardiner_Tyler
Read about President Tyler’s grandson Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. at franklinlionsclub.com/Tyler.html
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