Posted on 05/28/2025 2:59:09 PM PDT by DFG
The grandson of the 10th President of the United States, John Tyler, has died at 96 — 180 years after his grandfather was last in the White House.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler, the son of President Tyler’s 13th child, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, died on Sunday evening at a Virginia nursing home, ending the last living link to an 18th-century presidential administration.
When he was born on Nov. 9, 1928, his father was 75 years old.
Having children into old age was a family trait, as President Tyler was 63 when Lyon was born.
President Tyler would go on to have two more children before he died in 1862 age 71.
Born into a prominent slaveholding Virginia family in 1790, John Tyler served as President William Henry Harrison’s vice president on the Whig ticket in 1840.
He became president after Harrison died just 31 days into his term.
While in office, Tyler was a believer in manifest destiny, and signed a bill offering Texas statehood shortly before leaving office.
But he fell out with the Whig Party, who chose not to nominate him for reelection, instead opting for Henry Clay, who lost to the Democrat James K. Polk.
He fathered more children than any other American president, including eight with his first wife, Letitia Christian, and seven with his second, Julia Gardiner, whom he married in 1844 — two years after Letitia died of a stroke.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler was a feature of curiosity from a young age due to his ties to America’s past.
At age 8, he was invited to the White House to meet FDR, and Lady Nancy Astor paid his $5,000 tuition fees at William & Mary College even though the two had never met.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Interesting history...
We were in DC and wanted to go to the homestead when both brothers were alive a couple years ago but it was quite a drive from where we were staying.
That almost seems surreal. His father was 77 when he was born, which also seems surreal. 😋
Tyler was the first VP to take over for the first President that died in office.
As usual, even back then, many in Congress challenged his ascension to President. Probably Democrats. The new Constitution be damned.
The actor Tony Randall had one around 72.
Tippecanoe and...
As one wag noted in the comments to the article, "Oh, so that means he was related to Elizabeth Warren?" 😂😂😂
This guy who was alive in 2025 had a granddad who was born in 1790. Wow.
Amazing to think he had a Grandfather who was alive when George Washington was President.
My grandfather fought in the Civil War. He lived in Maine.
He was 70 when he fathered my dad.
Most guys have live ammo until they drop dead.
My son went to boarding school with Harrison Ruffin Tyler’s grandson. They were close friends, and as a result, my son visited the Tyler family plantation in Virginia several times.
I often met Harrison Ruffin Tyler during school functions. He was in his 70’s at the time. A very good looking man with an unmistakable likeness to his famous grandfather. A southern gentleman in all respects.
But the grandchild dying 180 years after his grandfather died, that is extremely surreal. If I lived into my 90s I would have lived less than 100 years after my grandfather had died. Right now I have only outlived my dad about 24 years. If I live into my 90s it will have been 40+-50+ years.
.....He is survived by three children and numerous grandchildren.....
So the Tyler lineage continues! Bravo!
Amazing
Please tell me he died when he was in a canoe, and it tipped over?
“Born into a prominent slaveholding Virginia family in 1790”
Gotta get that in there, mmm, mmm, mmm.
This really is incredible
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