Welcome to Part Ten! It’s time for the ‘His Accidency,’ the man who was the first to ascend mid-term. Let’s dive into the John Tyler administration:
Harrison dies- 4th April 1841
William Henry Harrison passed away on the 4th April 1841, the first president to die in office. One person not present was John Tyler. The vice president was considered so inconsequential that John Tyler had spent a couple of days in D.C. after the inauguration before heading home to Virginia. Tyler was kept abreast of Harrison’s illness and was aware of the grim prognosis, but worried about how he’d look if he went to Washington. Vice President Tyler was in Virginia when Harrison took his last breath and thus became president.
Tyler learns that he is President- 5th April 1841
It was dawn on the 5th April when Fletcher Webster, son of Secretary of State Daniel Webster, arrived at Tyler’s Virginia home and delivered the news that he’d been waiting for: Harrison was dead. Tyler prepared for Washington.
Extraordinary Inauguration- 6th April 1841
The first extraordinary inauguration in American history happened on this date. Whilst John Tyler believed he didn’t need to take the oath as he’d taken the vice presidential version and most believed he was only acting President, he was persuaded to take the presidential oath. Tyler was thus sworn in by William Cranch, Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. The location, Brown’s Indian Queen Hotel, no longer stands. This was the first of nine extraordinary inaugurations, and the first of five to take place in D.C.
Informal inaugural address- 9th April 1841
John Tyler delivered an informal inaugural address to Congress on this date. He started by paying tribute to William Henry Harrison and promising to do his best as president. Tyler mainly discussed fiscal conservatism, freedom and limited government. He ended it by once again assuring Congress and the people of his efforts to oversee a free nation. Unfortunately for Tyler, this inaugural address would do nothing to smooth things over.
Special Session- 1st June 1841
Those who read last week’s part will remember that William Henry Harrison called a Special Session before he died. The Special Session happened on this date, one day late. The central crux of the Special Session was the economy and financial institutions. Tyler himself spoke in an address about a range of issues- the Treasury, currency, population growth, banks and the Post Office among other things. Financial issues would prove to be Tyler’s downfall, as we’ll see in a moment.
Vetoes Act Creating Fiscal Corporation of the United States- 9th September 1841
John Tyler controversially vetoed a bill that would have pushed to establish a National Bank. He’d already vetoed one on the 16th August, having subscribed to the Andrew Jackson ideology on banking, but had agreed to a potential new one that would act as a compromise between the factions. Tyler, however, vetoed the second bill on this day. This caused an immediate firestorm not only within Congress, but within his own party.
All but Daniel Webster resign Cabinet- 11th September 1841
Tyler’s actions had angered his cabinet so much that all but one resigned on this date. The mastermind of this plot was Henry Clay, who had been a sworn enemy of Andrew Jackson, and who remained perhaps the most powerful figure in Congress. Daniel Webster was the sole survivor, mainly because of his essential role and seeking to prove that he was independent from Clay. The cabinet, inherited from Harrison, was an essential part of Tyler’s legitimacy as president because they had agreed to his ascendancy instead of seeing him as ‘Acting President.’ Whilst this did not end Tyler’s presidency, as we’ll see in a moment, it caused a lot of problems.
Tyler is expelled from the Whigs- 13th September 1841
Two days after the cabinet walkout, Tyler was expelled from the Whigs. He then became an independent.
An impeachment petition is introduced- 22nd July 1842
Tyler’s love of the veto led to an impeachment petition being introduced on this day. He’d vetoed two bills that would raise tariffs, angering Congress once again, and pocket vetoed a piece of distribution legislation. This independent streak did not endear him to a Congress who already despised him. Representative John M. Botts of Virginia introduced the impeachment petition, and it soon spiralled.
Webster-Ashton Treaty is signed- 9th August 1842
Daniel Webster had remained in his post, and one of those reasons was the Webster-Ashton Treaty, which was signed on this day. The treaty, signed by both the Americans and the British, resolved border issues between the United States and Canada. The Aroostook War, which was discussed in a previous part, was the primary motivation for this treaty. Beyond settling the boundaries between Maine and New Brunswick, the treaty allowed for American navigation rights, extradition and a joint force to stop the slave trade off of the coast of Africa. This allowed relative peace in North America.
Accused of abusing veto power- 16th August 1842
Between the impeachment petition of the 22nd July and the date of the 16th August, Tyler once again used his veto, this time to get rid of a tariff bill. The veto message was sent to a select committee run by a certain John Quincy Adams. On this date, Tyler was accused of abusing his veto power. Vetoes had been rare up until the Jackson era, but Tyler’s vetoes had upset his own party too. It was suggested that there could be a constitutional amendment to restrict veto use.
Message to the House regarding impeachment- 30th August 1842
With impeachment a looming threat, Tyler sent a message to the House regarding impeachment. In it, he castigated the House for attacking him but not giving him the means of rebuttal. Whilst his words were polite, the message showed Tyler’s clear anger at the House using ‘extrajudicial’ means in which to punish him. He finished the lengthy message by asking that it be recorded in the Journal of the House of Representatives. They declined to do so.
Letitia Tyler dies- 10th September 1842
In the midst of the impeachment drama, Tyler suffered from a personal tragedy. His wife Letitia Christian Tyler became the first First Lady to die in office, passing away on this date. Letitia Tyler was only fifty-one but had suffered from years of poor health, including a stroke three years earlier. The Tylers had been married for twenty-nine years and had seemed to have had a quiet but successful marriage, though Tyler had been noted for his flirtatious behavior with the young and beautiful Julia Gardiner whilst his wife was still alive. They had seven living children, and their daughter Letitia was the de facto White House hostess whilst her mother lived upstairs. Letitia Tyler was mourned as a thoroughly kind and decent woman, though historians are no doubt frustrated at the lack of source material on her.
Impeachment fails- 10th January 1843
Efforts to impeach Tyler failed on this date. Despite attempts by the House, they could neither find the means to Tyler or clip his wings regarding the veto power. Tyler was still out of the Whigs and mourning his wife, but he was safe.
Daniel Webster resigns- 8th May 1843
Daniel Webster was the lone holdout in the big cabinet resignation discussed above, but he finally resigned on the 8th May 1843. He’d received pressure from both Tyler and Congressional Whigs, both of whom seemed to have their own motives for his ouster. Webster would return to his role under Millard Fillmore in 1850.
First emigrants on the Oregon Trail- 22nd May 1843
The Oregon Trail saw its first emigrants on this day. Known perhaps more today for dysentry and the video game, the Oregon Trail allowed for a large number of Americans to migrate to the almost-mythical West. Thousands would pass through the terrain over the years, though it became infamous for the disastrous Donner Party several years later.
USS Princeton explosion– 28th February 1844
It’s not every day that a ship disaster leads to death and romance in equal measure, but the explosion of the USS Princeton on this date did. The Princeton was a new warship that was being shown off on the Potomac. Dignitaries included President Tyler, Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, former First Lady Dolley Madison and Secretary of the Navy Thomas Walker Gilmer. An accident occured when a gun was fired, creating an explosion. Upshur, Gilmer, Captain Beverley Kennon, Tyler’s slave Armistead, lawyer David Gardiner and attorney Virgil Maxcy were all killed. Gardiner’s daughter Julia witnessed her father’s body and fainted in Tyler’s arms. It was a shocking and tragic day for the government.
Rhode Island ratifies a new constitution- 9th April 1844
In Rhode Island, the Dorr Rebellion had sought to expand voting in the state to universal male suffrage. The rebellion was so widespread that the legislators of Rhode Island were forced to draft a new constitution to expand suffrage. Rhode Island ratified the constitution on this day, permitting all males, regardless of race, who could pay $1 fee to vote. This was a landmark event in the expansion of suffrage, an idea that would soon reach other parts of the country.
Senate refuses Texas Annexation Treaty- 8th June 1844
A treaty to annex Texas was voted down by the Senate on this day. The Whig majority had concerns regarding the expansion of slavery, and the necessary two-thirds majority was not met. Texas would continue to be discussed into the Polk presidency.
Marries Julia Gardiner- 26th June 1844
On this day, the widowed John Tyler (fifty-four) married Julia Gardiner (twenty-four). This was the first presidential marriage during an administration. He had become interested in her quite soon after his wife died, but she refused his proposal until tentatively agreeing without confirming a date. Tyler’s kindness after her father’s death made Julia fall in love with the older, widowed president, and the two married. This was controversial- Julia was three decades younger, younger than three of his children, and the two had wed within two years of his first wife’s death. His own children disliked the match, though ultimately only Letitia Tyler would never accept her. Julia proved an extravagant First Lady who immediately absorbed all of her husband’s ideas and policies, defending them. The pair had seven children and were married until Tyler’s 1862 death.
John C. Frémont returns home- 6th August 1844
John C. Frémont, later notable as the first Republican presidential candidate, returned from his successful second expedition on this date. Frémont’s scientific discoveries were widely reproduced and his commentary on the Oregon Trail likely only encouraged more to make the journey.
Tyler withdraws from the presidential nomination- 20th August 1844
Tyler withdrew from the presidential nomination on this day. Expelled from the Whigs three years earlier, Tyler became the nominee for the Democratic-Republicans. His campaign was poorly organised, and Tyler was more interested in annexing Texas. Once he was assured it could happen under a James K. Polk presidency, he withdrew from the race and threw his support behind Polk.
Signs Joint Resolution for the Annexation of Texas- 1st March 1845
Tyler signed the Joint Resolution for the Annexation of Texas on this day. So long as certain conditions were met, such as the approval of Polk, Texas would immediately be annexed if they wished. This was helped by the fact that the Democrats were in charge of Congress.
Florida and Iowa are permitted to join the Union- 3rd March 1845
Both the Florida and Iowa territories were invited to join the Union as states on this day. Florida in particular had been a focal point of American actions against Spain, who held the area for a long time. It became the twenty-seventh state, whilst Iowa would become the twenty-ninth a year later. Continental America was now expanding.
Leaves office- 4th March 1845
John Tyler handed the keys to the White House over to James K. Polk on this day. Along with his wife, Tyler retired to Virginia, where Julia would give birth to seven children. He acted as a local politician but stayed off the national stage until the Civil War. He was part of the Virginia Secession Committee and soon decided that secession was the best option. A loyal Southerner and member of the Confederacy, Tyler was an elected member of the Provisional Confederate Congress. John Tyler died on the 18th January 1862 aged seventy-one. He is the only US president to be buried under a foreign flag, the Confederate one, and was given a grand funeral organised by Jefferson Davis. Historians tend to rank him quite low, though not at the absolute bottom, whilst he is considered one of the most forgotten presidents among the general public.
That’s it for John Tyler! Tune in next week for James K. Polk, in which we’ll see him deal with the Mexican-American War, Texas and doing everything he set his mind to.
