Tyler, John

Tyler, John (b. Charles City County, Va., 29 Mar. 1790; d. Richmond, Va., 18 Jan. 1862), statesman and president of the United States, 1841–1845. After assuming the nation's highest office upon the death of President William Henry Harrison in 1841, John Tyler found himself locked in a political struggle with his own Whig party. Tyler's unexpected ascension to the presidency horrified Senate Whigs led by Kentucky's Henry Clay, who fundamentally opposed the Virginian's states' rights political philosophy (see State Sovereignty and States' Rights). As a result of this party split, Tyler was the least successful of all presidents in securing confirmation of his nominees to the Supreme Court.

When Justice Smith Thompson died in December 1843, Tyler nominated his secretary of the treasury, John C. Spencer, a lawyer from New York. A political enemy of Clay, Spencer failed to gain Senate confirmation; subsequently, Tyler nominated another capable New York attorney, Reuben H. Walworth. Before the Senate could act, however, Justice Henry Baldwin died in April 1844, creating a second vacancy on the Court. To this seat, Tyler hoped to appoint Pennsylvania's James Buchanan, but, in keeping with the president's luck, Buchanan declined the position. Tyler then nominated Philadelphia lawyer Edward King, Senate Whigs, however, sensing a victory in the fall presidential election, postponed in June the nominations of both Walworth and King.

Although the Whig Party failed to capture the presidency, Tyler's political position continued to wane in the final months of his term. He withdrew both of his nominations in January 1845 and instead proposed Samuel Nelson, chief justice of New York. After the Senate speedily confirmed this choice, Tyler attempted to fill the second vacancy with Philadelphia lawyer John Meredith Read. Political success, however, did not come easy to Tyler. Dealing the president a final defeat, the Senate adjourned without acting on the nomination, leaving the seat to the choice of Tyler's successor, James K. Polk.

See also Nominees, Rejection of.

Timothy S. Huebner