John Tyler, Sr.

John Tyler, Sr.
File:John Tyler Sr.jpg
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Virginia
In office January 7, 1811 – January 6, 1813
Appointed by	James Madison
Preceded by	Cyrus Griffin
Succeeded by	St. George Tucker
15th Governor of Virginia
In office December 1, 1808 – January 15, 1811
Preceded by	William H. Cabell
Succeeded by	James Monroe
Personal details
Born	(1747-02-28)February 28, 1747 Charles City County, Virginia
Died	Charles City County, Virginia
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Armistead (1761-1797)
Children	Anne, Elizabeth, Martha, Maria, Wat, John, William, Christina
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Profession	Lawyer, planter
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Continental Army
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

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 tenth 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.

Biography

John Tyler, Sr. served in the Continental Army as a 1st lieutenant in the 3d Virginia Regiment from February 9 to September 5, 1776. 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. In the debates over ratification of the United States Constitution, Tyler was an Anti-Federalist, voting against the document at the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788. He explained his opposition stating, "It has been often observed ... that liberty ought not to be given up without knowing the terms. The gentlemen themselves cannot agree in the construction of various clauses of [the Constitution]; and so long as this is the case, so long shall liberty be in danger."

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.

Tyler County, West Virginia is named in his honor.

Family

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

• Anne Contesse 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)

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
Legal offices
Preceded by John Tyler, Sr.	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Virginia 1811–1813	Succeeded by St. George Tucker