Who Was Tyler?

Happy birthday to our first and sixteenth Presidents, although it’s not the birthday of either one. George Washington was born on February 22 and Abraham Lincoln on February 12. So, this is in between both. We hear a lot about these two Presidents but who, I asked myself, was a President that I didn’t hear much about? I came up with the name of  John Tyler, the tenth President. He was born March 29, 1790.

In doing a bit of research, I found a lot of information. He served from 1841 to 1845, so that was way back in history. What an interesting man! He was married twice and had, in all, fifteen children! He named his plantation Sherwood Forest because he considered himself a political outlaw. He thought his own thoughts, apparently not much influenced by outside forces.

Mr. Tyler loved animals and had a pet cemetery at Sherwood Forest. The pets buried here included his horse. The really neat thing, though, is that the plantation is still in the Tyler family and his own grandson, mind you, not great-grandson, but his son’s son lived there until very recently when he passed away.

Sherwood Forest Plantation still exists and is well cared for. Visitors are welcome and Tyler family members still call it home. A wonderful place to visit, and a great part of our heritage.