Julia Tyler
1844-1845
John Tyler married Julia two years after his first wife Letitia Tyler died. Letitia died in 1842. John and Julia were married in 1844. Both Letitia and Julia served as First Ladies. John Tyler was the first President to be married while he was President.
Julia was born on May 4, 1820 in Gardiner's Island, N.Y.
Her parents, the Gardiners, were quite wealthy.
She had a debut in Saratoga Springs in New York and tour Europe with her family. She was very popular in the social circles in Washington, DC.
In 1844, an explosion of a navy gun accidentally killed two of President Tyler's cabinet officers and Julia's father. Tyler comforted Julia after the accident.
She served as First Lady from 1844-1845.
She created a scandal when it became known that she had modeled for an advertisement in her younger years.
She only served a few months as First Lady.
The Tylers had seven children.
- David Gardiner
- John Alexander
- Julia
- Lachlan
- Lyon Gardiner
- Rober Fitzwater
- Pearl
Mrs. Tyler was scared by a dream she had that Tyler was ill. She rushed to see her husband in Richmond, Virginia. Two days later Tyler died of a stroke.
She died in Richmond, Va. on July 10, 1889. She was 69. She is buried next to President Tyler in Richmond, VA. They are buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
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