John Tyler, Sr.

John Tyler, Sr.
15th Governor of Virginia
In office December 1, 1808 – January 15, 1811
Preceded by	William H. Cabell
Succeeded by	James Monroe
Personal details
Born	February 28, 1747(1747-02-28) Charles City County, Virginia
Died	January 6, 1813(1813-01-06) (aged 65) Charles City County, Virginia
Spouse(s)	Mary Armistead (1761-1797)
Children	John Tyler, 8 others

John Tyler Sr. (February 28, 1747 – January 6, 1813) was a Virginia planter, judge, 15th Governor of Virginia (1808–1811) and the father of the 10th President of the United States, John Tyler.

Born in York County, Virginia, Tyler attended the College of William and Mary and read law under Judge Nicholas in Williamsburg to enter the bar. He practiced in the county courts, and was a planter in Charles City County, Virginia.

He served in the Continental Army in 1775, and after the Declaration of Independence, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for several years, beginning in 1777. He was a Speaker from 1781 to 1784. He was a member of the Virginia Council of State from 1780 to 1781, and was vice-president of the Virginia Convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1788. In 1786, he was appointed a judge in the Virginia High Court of Admiralty and was consequently a judge on the first Virginia Court of Appeals. When the Court of Appeals was reorganized late in 1788, Tyler was made a judge of the general court. In 1808, he was elected Governor of Virginia, serving in that office until 1811.

On January 2, 1811, Tyler was nominated by President James Madison to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Virginia vacated by Cyrus Griffin. Tyler was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 3, 1811, and received his commission on January 7, 1811. He held this office until his death, in Charles City County, Virginia, in 1813.

He married Mary Armistead (1761–1797) in 1777. They were the parents of 8 children;

• Anne C. Tyler (1778–1803)
• Elizabeth Armistead Tyler (1780–1824)
• Martha Jefferson Tyler (1782–1855)
• Maria Henry Tyler (1784–1843)
• Wat Henry Tyler (1788–1862)
• John Tyler (1790–1862); the 10th President of the United States
• William Tyler (1791–1856)
• Christiana Booth Tyler (1795–1842)

Tyler County, West Virginia is named in his honor.

References

• John Tyler, Sr. at The Political Graveyard
• John Tyler, Sr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

Archival Records

• A Guide to the Governor John Tyler Executive Papers, 1808-1811 at The Library of Virginia

Political offices
Preceded by William H. Cabell	Governor of Virginia 1808 – 1811	Succeeded by James Monroe