Born into a wealthy Virginia family on March 29, 1790, John Tyler’s early life gave little indication of the tumultuous presidency that awaited him, particularly his fraught relationship with the Whig party. Growing up on the Greenway plantation and later studying law, Tyler’s initial political leanings were aligned with the Democratic party. However, his ascent to the nation’s highest office via the Whig ticket set the stage for a presidency defined by conflict and ultimately, political isolation.
Tyler’s political career began in earnest in the 1820s, marked by a series of prominent roles at both the state and national level. Despite identifying as a Democrat, Tyler’s political philosophy often diverged from the Jacksonian Democrats, especially concerning states’ rights versus federal power. This divergence became a crucial factor in his unexpected alignment with the Whig party in the late 1830s.
As the 1830s progressed, the Whig party emerged as a significant opposition to the Democratic policies of President Andrew Jackson and his successor, Martin Van Buren. In 1839, seeking to broaden their appeal and capture the Southern vote, the Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison for president and, crucially, John Tyler for vice president. Tyler, a Virginian, a slave owner, and a former Democrat, was strategically chosen to lure Southern Democrats wary of Van Buren into the Whig camp. The famous slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” effectively propelled Harrison and Tyler to victory in the 1840 election.
However, this political marriage of convenience was short-lived and ultimately disastrous for the Whig party and Tyler’s presidency. President Harrison’s untimely death in April 1841 thrust Vice President Tyler into the presidency, an event that dramatically altered the political landscape. John Tyler, now President Tyler, quickly found himself at odds with the Whig agenda.
The core of the conflict lay in Tyler’s staunchly held principles, particularly his commitment to states’ rights and limited federal government – principles more aligned with his Democratic roots than the Whig platform. When the Whig-controlled Congress passed legislation to re-establish the Second Bank of the United States, a central tenet of the Whig economic program, President Tyler vetoed it. This veto ignited a firestorm of political backlash.
Tyler’s veto was perceived as a betrayal by Whig leaders, who viewed the national bank as essential for economic stability and growth. The reaction was swift and severe. The Whig party effectively expelled Tyler, and most of his cabinet members resigned in protest. Simultaneously, his former Democratic allies remained distrustful, leaving Tyler politically isolated and without a strong party base. His political opponents derisively labeled him “His Accidency,” highlighting the accidental nature of his presidency and further undermining his authority. This political turmoil effectively crippled his presidency, and unsurprisingly, neither the Whigs nor the Democrats nominated John Tyler for president in 1848.
Despite the political storms, Tyler’s presidency did achieve one notable success: the annexation of Texas. Just days before leaving office, Tyler signed the legislation to annex Texas, a long-held expansionist goal he had pursued throughout his term. This achievement, however, was largely overshadowed by the intense political battles that defined his time in office and his fractured relationship with the Whig party.
Beyond the political drama, Tyler’s personal life also saw significant changes during and after his presidency. In 1842, he tragically lost his first wife, Letitia Christian, after nearly three decades of marriage. Two years later, he remarried Julia Gardiner, further adding to the public’s fascination and, for some, disapproval. After his presidency, Tyler retired to his Sherwood Plantation in Virginia.
In the years leading up to the Civil War, former President Tyler participated in the Peace Conference of 1861, attempting to avert the looming conflict. Ultimately, however, he sided with the Confederacy, even serving as a representative for the Confederate government. John Tyler died in Richmond, Virginia, in January 1862, and despite his wish for a simple burial, was given a state funeral by the Confederacy, a final, complex chapter in a life marked by political contradictions and an uneasy alliance with the Whig party.
