John Tyler 1841 - 1845

Born: 1790, Charles City County, VA
Died: 1862

Descended from wealthy Virginia planters, and the son of a federal judge, John Tyler served with distinction in both houses of the Virginia legislature, as a two-term Governor, and in both houses of Congress before becoming the nation's first unelected President.

An ardent supporter of states' rights, Tyler defected from the Democratic party and joined the Whigs in protest of President Jackson's expansive use of federal power. The Whigs picked Tyler as Harrison's running-mate to balance the ticket and win the South. But they never expected him to become President one month into Harrison's first term. When he did, the stubborn and independent Tyler proceeded to quash the sweeping nationalist agenda championed by powerful Whig Senator Henry Clay. In 1841, when Tyler vetoed the Whigs' National Bank bills, his entire cabinet save one, Secretary of State Daniel Webster, resigned and Tyler was expelled from the party.

Despite these difficulties, Tyler settled a territorial dispute between Maine and New Brunswick in 1842 and ended the Second Seminole War. In 1845 he accepted Texas into the Union over the ardent protests of American abolitionists.

Tenth President
Whig