John Tyler's grandsons are alive and well, 156 years after his death
Some people might argue that the greatest accomplishment of John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States, is the fact that 156 years after his death, he still has living grandsons.
Tyler was born in 1790, and after his first wife and mother to eight of his children died during his presidency, Tyler married his second wife, the much younger Julia, with whom he had seven more kids. Their son Lyon was born when Tyler was 63, and after Lyon's first wife died in 1921, he married a woman 35 years younger than him, named Sue. They had three children, and two are still alive today — Lyon Jr., born in 1924, and Harrison Tyler, born in 1928, when his father was 75.
Harrison Tyler maintains his grandfather's Sherwood Forest Plantation in Virginia, where the president and his second wife enjoyed entertaining guests, and he believes it's haunted — there's an image of a young girl clearly visible on a wall, and it's still there despite being painted over. He has absolutely no interest in politics, he told CBS News, and doesn't boast about being the grandson of a president. When his son, William Tyler, was asked if people are surprised when they find out his dad's close connection to John Tyler, he joked, "I find it hard to believe." Catherine Garcia
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'The mental gymnastics were breathtaking at times'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in December, including 'Nosferatu' and 'Babygirl'
The Week Recommends A vampire classic reimagined, a Bob Dylan biopic, and an erotic thriller
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
What's next in Syria's civil war?
Today's Big Question Rebels seize Aleppo, putting Assad on defense
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published