Tyler Administration - Family Life

Family Life

Tyler married Letitia Christian in 1813, on his 23d birthday. Like Tyler, his wife was a product of the Virginia plantation aristocracy. The couple had eight children, seven of whom lived to maturity, including the eldest son Robert, who went on to mount a political career of his own. Later stricken by illness, Letitia Tyler became an invalid after 1839 and was confined to a wheelchair. It was Robert's wife, Priscilla Cooper Tyler, who assumed the duties of White House hostess. Letitia Tyler died in 1842.

Two years later, in 1844, President Tyler married the young New York socialite Julia Gardiner. After overcoming some initial criticism (she was 30 years younger than the president), Julia Gardiner Tyler acted as first lady for the final eight months of Tyler's term. She then retired with him to his Virginia plantation. Together, she and Tyler had an additional seven children.