Letitia Christian Tyler

Letitia Christian Tyler
Official portrait, 1842
First Lady of the United States
In role
April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842
PresidentJohn Tyler
Preceded by
Succeeded byPriscilla Tyler (acting)
Second Lady of the United States
In role
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841
Vice PresidentJohn Tyler
Preceded byFloride Calhoun
Succeeded bySophia Dallas
First Lady of Virginia
In role
December 10, 1825 – March 4, 1827
GovernorJohn Tyler
Preceded bySusanna Lawson Pleasants
Succeeded byFrances Ann Gwynn Giles
Personal details
Born
Letitia Christian

(1790-11-12)November 12, 1790
Providence Forge, Virginia, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 1842(1842-09-10) (aged 51)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeCedar Grove Plantation Cemetery, New Kent County, Virginia
Spouse
(m. 1813)
Children9, including Robert and Letitia

Letitia Christian Tyler (née Christian; November 12, 1790 – September 10, 1842) was the first lady of the United States from 1841 to 1842 as the first wife of President John Tyler. After meeting in 1808, the two married in 1813. She managed their plantation in Virginia while her husband progressed his political career at the state capital and in Washington, D.C., accompanying him only while he was governor of Virginia. She had a stroke in 1839 that left her permanently disabled.

Tyler became the second lady of the United States when her husband became vice president of the United States in 1841, and she became the first lady when President William Henry Harrison died the following month and her husband ascended to the presidency. Tyler was unable to perform the duties of first lady due to her health, delegating them to her daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler. She died of a second stroke in 1842, becoming the first person to die while serving as first lady of the United States. Tyler played virtually no role in her husband's presidency, but maintained a positive reputation among the American people.