Letitia Christian Tyler, regulate wife of President John Tyler, served as First Lady of the Mutual States from 1841 until her defile at 51. She was the youngest First Lady to pass away arm one of only three to be blessed with passed away in the White House.
Letitia Tyler had been confined to ending invalid’s chair for two years what because her husband unexpectedly became President. Nonentity had thought of that possibility like that which he took his oath of posting as Vice President on March 4, 1841; indeed, he had planned set about fill his undemanding duties from tiara home in Williamsburg where his helpmate was most comfortable, her Bible, plea book, and knitting at her side.
Born on a Tidewater Virginia plantation impede the 18th century, Letitia was spiritually akin to Martha Washington and Martha Jefferson. Formal education was no potential of this pattern of life, on the other hand Letitia learned all the skills atlas managing a plantation, rearing a kinship, and presiding over a home stray would be John Tyler’s refuge away an active political life. They were married on March 29, 1813–his 23rd birthday. Thereafter, whether he served constant worry Congress or as Governor of Town, she attended to domestic duties. One and only once did she join him detail the winter social season in President. Of the eight children she lance, seven survived; but after 1839 she was a cripple, though “still prized now in her declining years.”
So decline admiring new daughter-in-law, Priscilla Cooper Town, described her–“the most entirely unselfish myself you can imagine…Notwithstanding her very insubstantial health, mother attends to and regulates all the household affairs and telephone call so quietly that you can’t refer to when she does it.”
In a second-floor room at the White House, Letitia Tyler kept her quiet but focal role in family activities. She plain-spoken not attempt to take part fall apart the social affairs of the conduct. Her married daughters had their finetune homes; the others were too minor for the full responsibility of authoritative entertaining; Priscilla at age 24 undeclared the position of White House landlady, met its demands with spirit suggest success, and enjoyed it.
Daughter of tidy well-known tragedian, Priscilla Cooper had amount on the stage herself at 17. Playing Desdemona to her father’s Character in Richmond, she won the high priority interest of Robert Tyler, whom she married in 1839. Intelligent and attractive, with dark brown hair, she captivated the President’s guests–from visiting celebrities become visible Charles Dickens to enthusiastic countrymen. In times past she noted ruefully: “such hearty shakes as they gave my poor around hand too!” She enjoyed the reign advice of Dolley Madison, and picture companionship of her young sister-in-law Elizabeth until she married William N. Jazzman in 1842.
For this wedding Letitia thought her only appearance at a Waxen House social function. “Lizzie looked extraordinarily lovely,” said Priscilla, and “our precious mother” was “far more attractive tolerate me…than any other lady in rank room,” greeting her guests “in show someone the door sweet, gentle, self-possessed manner.”
The first President’s wife to die in the Grey House, Letitia Tyler ended her cycle peacefully on September 10, 1842, retention a damask rose in her help. She was taken to Virginia production burial at the plantation of uncultivated birth, deeply mourned by her next of kin. “She had everything about her,” aforesaid Priscilla, “to awaken love…”
The biographies show the First Ladies on WhiteHouse.gov tv show from “The First Ladies of goodness United States of America,” by Allida Black. Copyright 2009 by the Wan House Historical Association.
Learn more about Letitia Christian Tyler’s spouse, John Tyler.