Historical Figure
John Tyler
1790–1862
President of the United States from 1841 to 1845
Talk to John Tyler
Have a conversation with this historical figure through AI
Key Dates
Birth
1790 March 29, 1790 →Biography
John Tyler was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig ticket with William Henry Harrison, succeeding to the presidency following Harrison's death 31 days after assuming office as president. Tyler was a stalwart supporter and advocate of states' rights, including regarding slavery, and he adopted nationalistic policies as president only when they did not infringe on the states' powers. His unexpected rise to the presidency posed a threat to the presidential ambitions of Senator Henry Clay and other Whig politicians and left Tyler estranged from both major political parties at the time: the Whigs and the Democrats.
Timeline
U.S. President John Tyler is sworn in, two days after having become president upon William Henry Harrison's death.
April 6 →U.S. President John Tyler vetoes a bill which called for the re-establishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Enraged Whig Party members riot outside the White House in the most violent demonstration on White House grounds in U.S. history.
August 16 →A gun explodes on board the steam warship USS Princeton during a pleasure cruise down the Potomac River, killing six, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur. President John Tyler, who is also on board, is not injured from the blast.
February 28 →President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.
March 1 →More from the Enlightenment
Explore what happened on the days that shaped John Tyler's life. Today In History connects historical figures with the events, births, and deaths that defined their era. Browse all historical figures or explore today's events.