Twelve-Inch Sparkle and Shine

 

John Tyler was this country’s tenth president. He served from 1841 to 1845. He was William Henry Harrison’s V.P. when the latter died, 31 days into his presidency. John Tyler was born in 1790 and died in January, 1862 – more than 162 years ago. So, it might surprise you to learn that President John Tyler has a grandson still living. How’s this possible? John had two wives: Letitia, who bore him eight children, and then Julia, who gave birth to seven. The last, Lyon, was born in 1853 when his dad was 63. Lyon also had two wives (in succession – the Tylers weren’t bigamists) and he fathered six children. Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928, the year Steamboat Willie was released. His dad, Lyon, was 75! Harrison celebrated his 95th birthday last November. Until his brother, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr. passed in 2020, there were two living descendants who could call John Tyler “grandpa.”