Letitia Tyler

Letitia Tyler (1790-1842) was an American first lady (1841-1842) and the first wife of John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States. Two years before her husband assumed the presidency, Letitia suffered a debilitating stroke. As a result, she spent her entire tenure as first lady in a semi-invalid state, attending only one public function. She passed away in September 1842, the first first lady to die in the White House. Two years later, her widowed husband married the young socialite Julia Gardiner.

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Did You Know?

Although first lady Letitia Tyler was confined to her private quarters due to the effects of a stroke, she was still able to welcome distinguished guests to the White House, including authors Washington Irving and Charles Dickens.

Letitia Tyler (born November 12, 1790, New Kent county, Virginia, U.S.—died September 10, 1842, at the White House, Washington, D.C.) was an American first lady (1841–42), and the first wife of John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States.

Letitia Christian was the seventh of 12 children born to Robert Christian, a planter, and Mary Brown Christian. Although few records documenting her early life exist, historians have surmised that she met John Tyler—who grew up 14 miles (23 km) from her father's plantation—in about 1808. The couple wed on John's 23rd birthday, March 29, 1813.

During their marriage, Letitia gave birth to eight children, seven of whom survived infancy. She devoted most of her time to her family and took little interest in her husband's political career. While John was governor of Virginia (1825–27), Letitia ran the state mansion, but a paralytic stroke suffered in 1839 left her unable to perform her duties as first lady when her husband became president in 1841. Her daughter-in-law, Priscilla Cooper Tyler, who had achieved recognition as an actress before her marriage, served as official White House hostess and quickly became popular for her receptions, formal dinners, and balls. Letitia attended only one White House function, the wedding of her daughter Elizabeth in 1842.

After Letitia suffered a second stroke in 1842, her health deteriorated further, and she became the first president's wife to die in the White House. Her funeral was held in the East Room, and she was buried at Cedar Grove, the family cemetery on the Virginia plantation where she was born.

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