Discover the Unexpected: Top 15 Fun and Fascinating Facts About John Tyler!

1. Lyon's Speedy Birth

They say kids grow up fast, but did you know John Tyler’s brood practically beat the clock? Well, hold on to your waistcoats: The 10th president of the United States had 15 children in total, including one son, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, born in 1853 who holds the unique distinction of being the only presidential child born during their father's term in office!
Source => sherwoodforest.org

2. Senate's Nominee Smackdown

Talk about a presidential game of Whack-A-Mole: John Tyler earned the dubious honor of being the first U.S. president to have his cabinet nominees bopped on the head with rejection mallets by the Senate. They sent four of his nominees packing, with poor Caleb Cushing getting the heave-ho not once, not twice, but thrice in a single day - making it the ultimate day of congressional smackdowns in history!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that William Henry Harrison made history not only as a president but also with his unique arrival and lavish inauguration festivities? 🚂💃 Discover more about the "Tippecanoe" ball and the birth of inaugural traditions!

=> Fun Facts about William-Henry-Harrison

3. John "His Accidency" Tyler

Before "accidents happen" became a popular phrase and Tyler, the Creator, made waves in the music industry, John Tyler was busy being dubbed "His Accidency": He unexpectedly swooped into the presidential hot seat when William Henry Harrison threw in the towel, or rather, kicked the bucket. John Tyler then set a precedent by becoming the first vice president to take the presidential oath of office after a president's death and fully embraced the responsibility of the highest office in the land.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Presidential Heights

When John Tyler answered destiny's phone call, little did he know he'd be the one hitting 'new heights' in presidential history: John Tyler became the first Vice President to be sworn in as President following the death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison, setting the stage for future Vice Presidential promotions and solidifying the succession process.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Texas Love Story

Paging the Marvelous Mrs. Texas-to-be: John Tyler singlehandedly charmed, schemed, and dealt his way to securing the Lone Star State for the United States, despite both major political parties' opposition and a pesky British plan to emancipate Texas slaves: The 10th President swiftly secured a treaty in 1844, playing matchmaker for Texas and the Union, making it the 28th state - and sparked the start of the Mexican-American War as a dramatic honeymoon souvenir!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Presidential Super-Dad

Step aside, Old McDonald: John Tyler had a farm of his own – by which we mean a sprawling family tree that boasts a mind-boggling number of offspring! No kidding, this presidential patriarch seriously upped the historical headcount: As the first vice president to assume the role of president following the death of a sitting president, John Tyler fathered a record-breaking 15 children with his two wives, Letitia Christian and Julia Gardiner, earning him an unforgettable spot in U.S. history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Party Boot to Presidential Power

You've heard of party evictions, but what about a president getting the boot from his own party? Well, buckle up for this wild ride of political defenestration: John Tyler, after being expelled from the Whigs, went on to flex his presidential muscles by vetoing their attempts to create a national bank and high tariffs, showcasing a leader unafraid to swim against their party's tide.
Source => millercenter.org

8. Veto Master Tyler

In an astonishing precursor to the binge-watching vetoer Frank Underwood on "House of Cards," good ol' John Tyler was the OG master of political rejection: Tyler, the first vice president to ascend to the presidency after the passing of William Henry Harrison, impressively exercised his veto power on 10 bills during his presidency, truly earning his stripes in the Oval Office.
Source => americanheritage.com

9. Oldest Living Presidential Grandkid

If being the grandson of a U.S. President was a sport, Harrison Ruffin Tyler would surely take home the grandeldest prize: Born in 1928, Harrison is still alive today at 94 years old and proudly carries the title of being the oldest living grandchild of a U.S. President, specifically his grandfather John Tyler, the 10th in line.
Source => reagan.blogs.archives.gov

10. Seriously Big Presidential Shoe

If the White House were a shoe, John Tyler would have needed more than a standard presidential pair: turns out, he was a serious contender for the "Father of our Nation" title in terms purely numerical! In an impressive display of paternal prowess: John Tyler fathered fifteen children - eight with his first wife, Letitia Christian, and seven with his second, Julia Gardiner. As if that wasn't enough, he even welcomed a new addition to his supersized brood at the ripe old age of 70.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Letitia's Plantation Politics

Much to the chagrin of "Desperate Housewives" fans everywhere, Letitia Christian Tyler took being a dutiful wife to the next level - all from the comfort of her Virginia plantation: As the first wife of President John Tyler, Letitia managed the plantation, slaves, and economic affairs while simultaneously advising her husband on political matters despite her poor health. Sadly, in 1842, Letitia became the first woman to die while serving as First Lady of the United States after suffering from two strokes.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Julia's White House Dance Party

Swapping champagne for dancing shoes and setting the presidential groove: Julia Tyler, the second wife of President John Tyler, introduced the waltz and polka to White House events, revitalizing the role of first lady both socially and politically, and even started the tradition of playing "Hail to the Chief" when POTUS arrived. Holding a secret wedding in 1844, she served as first lady for the last eight months of Tyler's term, rallying for the annexation of Texas and even raising seven children together after leaving the White House.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Age-Defying Presidential Love

Talk about a May-December romance: John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, couldn't resist the charms of his youthful bride, Julia Gardiner Tyler, who found herself 30 years his junior when they tied the knot. Their relationship was a true testament to the notion that age is just a number: Julia made history as the first First Lady who was born after the Revolutionary War, and together, they had a whopping seven children – guess President Tyler really knew how to entertain guests at the White House!
Source => scrc-kb.libraries.wm.edu

14. Dark Knight Tyler

Step aside, Michael Caine and Batman – here comes Vice President John Tyler swooping into the White House after the death of William Henry Harrison like a true dark knight: Tyler was the first VP to become President due to the unfortunate demise of his predecessor, and even after getting kicked out of the Whig Party, he championed the annexation of Texas, negotiating the treaty for its entry into the United States before James K. Polk came in and sealed it like an 'I Voted' sticker on an election day.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

15. Uninvited Presidential Debut

Before Vice President John Tyler could say "party crasher" and slip into the Oval Office: He made history as the first president to assume office intra-term without being elected to it, taking the presidential oath on April 6, 1841, after the death of President William Henry Harrison, and setting a precedent that would eventually become codified in the Twenty-fifth Amendment.
Source => en.wikipedia.org