#10 - John Tyler, 1841-1845

There are a number of ways to remember presidential order. Here's one to help with the first ten presidents. Yes it requires a little memorization, but you can do it. I have faith. Let's review:

1. George Washington - first, easy, OK?
2. John Adams - second, first Adams
3. Thomas Jefferson - third
4. James Madison - fourth and comes alphabetically before
5. James Monroe
   
6. John Quincy Adams - the first father-son pairing
   
7. Andrew Jackson - that transition is a little tough, think Adams-Andrew (alphabetical)
   
8. Martin Van Buren - you just have to remember that Martin was Andrew's veep
9. William Henry Harrison - the first Bill in the White House, but only there for a month and then he died. Try and remember Tippecanoe and
   
10. [John] Tyler, too.

John Tyler was known as the "Accidental President" for as we learned last week, never before had a President died in office, leaving the country without its leader. It was Tyler's actions (taking the oath of office, becoming president rather than "acting" president) that were later codified into the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.

During Tyler's administration, the Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, in 1845 and Florida became a state.

Tyler is on my list (of notable presidents) for another event (that some day I might actually write the book). In February 1844, the Peacemaker cannon on the USS Princeton exploded, killing Tyler's Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Navy. Also killed was David Gardiner (a Senator from New York), who daughter, Julia, was also on the boat. Julia and John Tyler were married in June 1844 (Tyler's first wife had died in the White House in 1842).

The Facts

• born March 29, 1790 in Greenway, Charles City County, Virginia
• died January 18, 1862 in Richmond, Virginia (age 71)
• Party: Whig, then Democrat
  

Trivia

• Tyler was the first president to have an impeachment resolution brought against him. It was proposed by Representative John Quincy Adams, but the resolution failed.
• Tyler was the first president born after the establishment of the US Constitution.
• Tyler was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives in 1861, but died before taking office. As a result, he is the only President whose death was not commemorated in Washington, DC.
• Tyler completed his term as president without naming a vice president.
  

Links

• The White House Biography
• Miller Center Biography
• Congressional Biographical Dictionary
• Internet Public Library Biography
  
• C-SPAN biography
  
• Wikipedia
• Sherwood Forest, home of John Tyler (nope, not yet.)