Okla-homey
6/26/2006, 06:15 AM
June 26, 1844 President John Tyler weds his second wife
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5361/johntyler8tf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
President John Tyler. The Virginian was prolific in the pre-Viagra era.
162 years ago in a move which would probably shock modern observers, 54 year old widower President John Tyler marries then 21 year old Julia Gardiner on this day in 1844. It was his second marriage. At the time, Julia was the youngest first lady in history. Tyler had wooed Julia from the time she was 19, but it took a tragedy and a narrow escape from death for her to accept him.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7339/tyler1608yk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Julia Tyler on her wedding day. She was known as "the Rose of Long Island (NY)" Daughter of a fabulously wealthy NY family, she was a socialite considered one of the most stylish and beautiful young debutantes of the era.
Earlier that year, Tyler and an entourage, including wealthy New Yorker David Gardiner and his daughter Julia, had cruised the Potomac on board the new steam frigate USS Princeton. During the voyage, the Princeton fired off its new cannons in salute as it sailed past George Washington’s former home at Mt. Vernon.
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/354/tyler61exploding4jz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Explosion aboard USS Princeton
At the time, Tyler was below deck raising a toast to Washington while enjoying a card game with his cronies. One of the big guns exploded on the third seven gun volley, killing Julia’s father and several others, including members of Tyler’s cabinet.
Tyler rushed up to the weather deck gun platform just in time to catch Julia as she fainted at the news of her father’s death. After the ship docked, Tyler whisked Julia off to safety in his arms.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9821/tylerpn41423kl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
USS Princeton
Thereafter, her admiration for him developed into love and, in 1844, they were married. Julia Gardiner Tyler reportedly insisted that “Hail to the Chief” be played at Tyler’s entrance to every official event, thus establishing a presidential tradition. One of her constant companions was a greyhound given to her by her husband.
Tyler’s first wife had been Letitia Christian, with whom he had eight children (one died in infancy). She died of a stroke in 1842. He and Julia had seven children together bringing his total to 15; Tyler holds the record for the most children sired (legitimately, at least) by a president.
He was a devoted husband and doting father to his rather large brood of children from both marriages. The extended nature of his family, though, along with his penchant for overspending, left Tyler perpetually in debt.
Tyler was a stud literally. He and Julia had their last of seven children two years before John's death when he was 70.
Other Tyler factoids: Tenth President of the United States 1841-1845. Vice President of the United States March-April 1841, the first Vice President to assume the presidency. Upon election to the Confederate Congress became the only former President to be named a sworn enemy of the United States.
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5098/tyjgtframe3yl.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Mrs Tyler late in her life
When Tyler died of a stroke at 72 in 1862, he left Julia practically penniless.
In December 1880 Congress voted her $1,200 a year - and after Garfield's assassination it passed bills to grant uniform amounts of $5,000 annually to Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Polk, and Mrs. Tyler. Living out her last years comfortably in Richmond, Julia died there in 1889 in the same Richmond, Virginia hotel room in which her husband had died 27 years earlier and was buried there at her husband's side.
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As an aside, when your correspondent was in college in Charleston SC (1978-1982) a member of the history faculty was a UVa history PhD named John Tyler III. The then 50 year old history professor was the late president's grandson. Professor Tyler explained his father was born to John and Julia when president Tyler was 68. The professor's dad fathered him when he was 67. Pretty cool huh? Think about it, a late 20th century guy whose grandfather was born in the late 18th century who taught history to a guy (me) now living in the 21st century!
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1593/insane7zo4ls.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5361/johntyler8tf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
President John Tyler. The Virginian was prolific in the pre-Viagra era.
162 years ago in a move which would probably shock modern observers, 54 year old widower President John Tyler marries then 21 year old Julia Gardiner on this day in 1844. It was his second marriage. At the time, Julia was the youngest first lady in history. Tyler had wooed Julia from the time she was 19, but it took a tragedy and a narrow escape from death for her to accept him.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7339/tyler1608yk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Julia Tyler on her wedding day. She was known as "the Rose of Long Island (NY)" Daughter of a fabulously wealthy NY family, she was a socialite considered one of the most stylish and beautiful young debutantes of the era.
Earlier that year, Tyler and an entourage, including wealthy New Yorker David Gardiner and his daughter Julia, had cruised the Potomac on board the new steam frigate USS Princeton. During the voyage, the Princeton fired off its new cannons in salute as it sailed past George Washington’s former home at Mt. Vernon.
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/354/tyler61exploding4jz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Explosion aboard USS Princeton
At the time, Tyler was below deck raising a toast to Washington while enjoying a card game with his cronies. One of the big guns exploded on the third seven gun volley, killing Julia’s father and several others, including members of Tyler’s cabinet.
Tyler rushed up to the weather deck gun platform just in time to catch Julia as she fainted at the news of her father’s death. After the ship docked, Tyler whisked Julia off to safety in his arms.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9821/tylerpn41423kl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
USS Princeton
Thereafter, her admiration for him developed into love and, in 1844, they were married. Julia Gardiner Tyler reportedly insisted that “Hail to the Chief” be played at Tyler’s entrance to every official event, thus establishing a presidential tradition. One of her constant companions was a greyhound given to her by her husband.
Tyler’s first wife had been Letitia Christian, with whom he had eight children (one died in infancy). She died of a stroke in 1842. He and Julia had seven children together bringing his total to 15; Tyler holds the record for the most children sired (legitimately, at least) by a president.
He was a devoted husband and doting father to his rather large brood of children from both marriages. The extended nature of his family, though, along with his penchant for overspending, left Tyler perpetually in debt.
Tyler was a stud literally. He and Julia had their last of seven children two years before John's death when he was 70.
Other Tyler factoids: Tenth President of the United States 1841-1845. Vice President of the United States March-April 1841, the first Vice President to assume the presidency. Upon election to the Confederate Congress became the only former President to be named a sworn enemy of the United States.
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5098/tyjgtframe3yl.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Mrs Tyler late in her life
When Tyler died of a stroke at 72 in 1862, he left Julia practically penniless.
In December 1880 Congress voted her $1,200 a year - and after Garfield's assassination it passed bills to grant uniform amounts of $5,000 annually to Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Polk, and Mrs. Tyler. Living out her last years comfortably in Richmond, Julia died there in 1889 in the same Richmond, Virginia hotel room in which her husband had died 27 years earlier and was buried there at her husband's side.
//////////////
As an aside, when your correspondent was in college in Charleston SC (1978-1982) a member of the history faculty was a UVa history PhD named John Tyler III. The then 50 year old history professor was the late president's grandson. Professor Tyler explained his father was born to John and Julia when president Tyler was 68. The professor's dad fathered him when he was 67. Pretty cool huh? Think about it, a late 20th century guy whose grandfather was born in the late 18th century who taught history to a guy (me) now living in the 21st century!
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1593/insane7zo4ls.jpg (http://imageshack.us)