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Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
Former U.S. President John Tyler's (1790-1862)
grandchildren still alive
by Eric Pfeiffer / The Sideshow-Yahoo! News
Former President John Tyler, born 221 years ago, still has two living grandchildren. The one-term president isn't a well-known historical figure; he's probably best remembered for helping to push through the annexation of Texas in 1845, shortly before leaving office.
So, how is it possible that a former president who died 150 years ago would still have direct descendents alive today? As it turns out, the Tyler men were known for fathering children late in life. And that math is pretty outstanding when added up:
John Tyler was born in 1790. He became the 10th president of the United States in 1841 after William Henry Harrison died in office. Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler in 1853, at age 63. Then, at the age of 71, Lyon Gardiner Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. in 1924 and four years later at age 75, Harrison Ruffin Tyler. Both men are still alive today.
That means just three generations of the Tyler family are spread out over more than 200 years. President Tyler was also a prolific father, having 15 children (8 boys and 7 girls) with two wives.
He even allegedly fathered a child, John Dunjee, with one of his slaves.
Some context on Tyler's progeny: Jane Garfield (granddaughter of James Garfield) is 99, making her the oldest living grandchild of a former president, even though Garfield took office 40 years after Tyler.
Former Ambassador John Eisenhower is the oldest living presidential child, turning 89 this past August.
A few other Tyler tidbits:
• He joined the South's secession efforts shortly before his death and
was even elected to the Confederate House of Representatives.
• Because of his Confederate ties, Tyler's is the only presidential death
not officially mourned.
• Tyler ascended to the presidency in 1841. Other things that happened
that year: Canada became a nation; the United States Senate has its
first filibuster, lasting nearly a month; the city of Dallas, Texas was
founded.
• Tyler was the first person to ascend to the presidency through
succession as vice president.
Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
Can you believe this?
So you meet this old man and he tells you his family story and his dad was born in 1853 blows you away, then he tells you his grandpa was born in 1790.
What in hell? 
Cool story. I wonder how often that's happened before? Direct immediate families (no "great" tag) that combined, only three generations were apart of four different CENTURIES.
If I didn't know immortals can't have kids, i'd think otherwise. 
Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
That is wild. Their grandfather was the 10th President.
My family is quite old though too, my paternal grandfather was born in 1896. I think his father (which would be my great grandfather) was like 60 at the time too, so he would have been born around 1840. Not exactly the same, but I'm only 39.
Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
Those grandchildren gotta write a book or something about 1st hand stories of their grandfather, because once they die, the stories will stop altogether for John Tyler. Were born with nothing and leave with nothing
Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
Those grandchildren were born over 60 years after their grandfather's DEATH.
That's why it's so wild, and that's frankly the only reason why any of this has been able to happen the way it has. Is both John Tyler and his son had kids so incredibly late in life.
Whatever stories the Tyler grandchildren have, it's whatever their father passed on to them over the years as he only knew his father (John Tyler) the first 9 years of his life, and last 9 of President Tyler's life.
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Former U.S. President John Tyler's grandkids still alive
Gotta say that is fucking impressive!
