"HIS ACCIDENCY"

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. 

   

 

President John Tyler

Brady-Handy Collection

Library of Congress 

JOHN TYLER: HIS ACCIDENCY

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1911

JOHN TYLER SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT 175 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One century and 75 years ago today, April 6, 1841, John Tyler* officially became the 10th President of the United States as he was sworn in to office following the death of President William Henry Harrison.

Tyler, a Virginian who supported states rights and slavery, became the first Vice-President to assume the office upon the death of the President.  Mr. Harrison died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841, after only about a month in office.

Tyler, a life-long Democratic-Republican, joined the Whigs in 1840 and became the new party's nominee for Vice-President.  After being sworn in as VP, Tyler returned to his home in Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was there that he received word of the death of President Harrison.

Tyler, addressed as Vice-President Acting as President by his fellow Whigs, "insisted on being called President Tyler."  He was also sometimes referred to as "His Accidency."

Harrison had appointed a strong cabinet, led by Daniel Webster, which attempted to control Tyler by having him agree to make decisions based on a majority vote of the cabinet.   The new president refused.  He said...

"I can never consent to being dictated to....I am the President...when you think otherwise your resignations will be accepted."

*John Tyler (1790-1862) was born in Charles City County, VA & attended William & Mary.  JT joined a prestigious Richmond law firm & later served in the Virginia House of Representatives & as Governor.  After leaving the White House, he was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives but died before taking his seat.

SOURCE

"To the Best of My Ability:  The American Presidents," James M. McPherson, General Editor, DK Publishing Company, New York, 2001.

John Tyler

Daguerreotype (1860)

by Edwards & Anthony

Library of Congress Image

BENJAMIN HARRISON BORN

August 20, 2013

GRANDSON OF #9 WHO WOULD BE #23, BENJAMIN HARRISON, BORN 180 YEARS AGO TODAY 

North Bend, Ohio (JFK+50) Benjamin Harrison, who would become the 23rd president of the United States, and was the grandson of the 9th, William Henry Harrison, was born here in North Bend* 180 years ago today, August 20, 1833.

       State of Ohio Birthplace Marker
                  North Bend, Ohio
           Photo by Gbauer 8946 (2012)

The Harrisons were among the First Families of Virginia having arrived in Jamestown in 1630.

Young Benjamin attended Farmers College in 1847 and graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 1852.

He studied law in Cincinnati and joined the Republican Party in 1856.

During the Civil War, Harrison rose from 2nd Lt. to Brigadier General in the Union Army.

Having lost bids for governor of Ohio in 1872 and 1876, Benjamin Harrison was elected to the United States Senate and served from 1881 to 1887.

In 1888, he won the Republican nomination for president and chose Levi P. Morton as his running mate.

Although losing the popular vote by 90,000, Harrison became president-elect by virtue of a 233 to 168 electoral college victory over incumbent President Grover Cleveland.

                     Benjamin Harrison
              23rd President of the U.S.
          Official White House Portrait
                   by Eastman Johnson 

Benjamin Harrison's grandfather, William Henry Harrison, who had given his long inaugural address in the rain, died just one month later from complications of pneumonia.

In a twist of fate, Benjamin Harrison's inaugural day was also marred by rain.
Perhaps not wishing the same tragic fate to befall his successor, President Cleveland held an umbrella over Harrison's head while he was sworn in.

               Inaugural Oath of Office
                         March 4, 1889
                  United States Capitol
              Library of Congress Photo

At the end of a four year term with the surplus eroded and the economy going into the tank, Benjamin Harrison was defeated for re-election by former President Cleveland. 

Cleveland would become the only president to serve non-consecutive terms and be labeled as the 22nd and 24th presidents.

    Historic Home of Benjamin Harrison
                Indianapolis, Indiana
       Photo by Daniel Schwen (2008)

*North Bend, Ohio is located in the SW corner of the state bordering Indiana.  It is in Hamilton County on the banks of the Ohio River.  The town was the home of William Henry Harrison who is buried there.  15 miles from Cincinnati and 6 miles from the Ohio-Indiana state line, the area was settled by John Cleves Symmes in 1789.

North Bend can boast as being one of only two towns in America that is the birthplace of two presidents, the other being Quincy, Massachusetts.