John Tyler Dies

John Tyler

One hundred and fifty years ago today John Tyler, former President of the United States, died in Virginia. He was elected as Vice President, and was the first Vice President to assume the role of President when the President died. He was unpopular because he upheld the Constitution and many people said that he was not really President, burning him in effigy and calling him “His Accidence.” He left the Union with his state Virginia, and was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, although he was not able to serve before his death. He has been the only President of the United States to die as a citizen of a foreign nation, as well as to be the only President not to be officially mourned by the nation.