JOHN TYLER IS FIRST TO ASSUME THE PRESIDENCY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 6, 1841, John Tyler* was sworn in as the tenth President of the United States becoming the first chief executive to assume the office on the death of a president.
William Henry Harrison, who served only one month in office, died of pneumonia. The Vice-President was at his home in Williamsburg, Virginia when he received word of President Harrison's passing.
Tyler, a life-long Democrat, joined the Whig Party in 1840 and became the party's vice-presidential nominee. Not popular with the Whigs, he sometimes was referred to as "His Accidency."
*John Tyler (1790-1862) was born in Charles City County, VA & served in the US House of Representatives 1816-1821, US Senate 1827-1836, Vice-President 1841, & POTUS 1841-1845. JT was Chancellor of the College of William & Mary 1859-1862.
