GRANDSON OF PRESIDENT TYLER DIES AT 95
Franklin, Tennessee (JFK+50) Dr. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr.*, grandson of John Tyler**, 10th POTUS, died at the age of 95 last month here in Franklin. His grandfather is the earliest President to have living grandchildren into the 2000s.
John Tyler is also notable for having the most children of any of our presidents. He had 8 children by his first wife, Letitia, and 7 by his second (Dr. Tyler's grandmother), Julia Gardiner Tyler.
Dr. Tyler was never one to dwell on being the grandson of a U.S. president. He said in 2010...
"Being a presidential descendant, even as a small boy, I didn't want to hear any more about it."
Dr. Tyler, who taught history at VMI and The Citadel, did like to quote President Tyler from a letter to one of his sons dated 1832...
"Truth should always be uttered, no matter what the consequences. When I am in the company of a double-dealing man...I...avoid him as I would a poisonous reptile."
*Dr. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr. (1924-2020) grew up outside Richmond, VA. His father was president of William & Mary (1888-1919). LGT served in WWII & earned his law degree from UVA (1949) & doctorate in history at Duke (1967). He lived in Tennessee since 2000.
**John Tyler (1790-1862) was born in Virginia & served in the House of Representatives (1816-1821), as Governor of Virginia (1825-1827), in the Senate (1827-1836). JT was the 10th Vice-President (1841) & the 10th POTUS (1841-1845).
SOURCES
"Grandson of President John Tyler dies at 95," by Matt Schudel, The Washington Post, October 10, 2020.
"Tenn. man, grandson of President Tyler, died last month at 95," by Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, October 11, 2020.
