John Tyler had to take over the position of the president in one of the most unexpected turn of events, after the death of Harrison. Tyler served as the vice president under Harrison. He is also the first vice president to succeed to the presidency after the death of his predecessor.
Born in Virginia, Tyler grew up believing that the Constitution was of supreme importance. He was popular as a U.S. Congressman, governor and senator, and this was the reason he was chosen to run for the position of the vice president. Though loved as vice president, no one expected Tyler to become the president of the country.
Being the president was not easy for Tyler. The first ever impeachment resolution against a president was introduced in the House of Representatives when Tyler vetoed a tariff bill. A committee headed by Representative John Quincy Adams reported that the president had misused the veto power. However, the resolution failed.
He was rejected by the Democrats and Whigs alike because he refused allegiance to the programme of party leader Andrew Jackson. After this, Tyler functioned as a political independent.
Letitia Christian Tyler, Tyler’s wife was the first president’s wife to die in the White House. She died in 1842. After Letitia’s death, he married again, thus becoming the first president to marry while in office. This happened in 1844.
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