By: HISTORY.com Editors

1862

President John Tyler dies

HISTORY.com Editors

Published: November 13, 2009

Last Updated: May 28, 2025

On January 18, 1862, former U.S. President and Confederate congressman-elect John Tyler dies at age 71 in Richmond, Virginia.

Tyler, who was born in Virginia in 1790, served as a U.S. congressman and as governor of his home state before winning election to the U.S. Senate. state during the 1830s. A Whig, Tyler became the 10th U.S. Vice President in March 1841. Within a month of his inauguration, President William Henry Harrison died in office and Tyler vaulted into the executive chair. The major achievement of his administration was the addition of Texas to the Union in 1845.

John Tyler

Find out how President John Tyler proved wrong his critics who called him weak.

After his presidency ended in 1845, Tyler retired to his plantation, Sherwood Forest, in Virginia. His fellow Virginians called on the 70-year-old to head a Peace Convention in the winter of 1860-1861. This body tried to negotiate a compromise with the Republicans in the North in order to prevent a civil war. The attempt failed, as the Republicans were not willing to entertain any proposals that would protect slavery in the Western territories. Tyler was a delegate to the subsequent Secession Convention, and later became a member of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America. He felt that victory was impossible for the Confederates but nonetheless suggested that Confederate cavalry be dispatched to capture Washington, D.C., before the Union military was in place.

Tyler was elected to the permanent Congress of the Confederate States of America but died before he could take his seat. He was survived by his second wife, Julia, and 11 of his 15 children. Tyler was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

Timeline

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1778

Captain Cook reaches Hawaii

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1803

President Jefferson requests funding for Lewis and Clark expedition

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1919

Post-World War I peace conference begins in Paris

In Paris, leaders of the victorious Allied powers—France, Great Britain, the United States and Italy–meet to discuss post-WWI negotiations.

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Opening session of the Versailles Peace conference

1950

China recognizes Democratic Republic of Vietnam

The People’s Republic of China formally recognizes the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam and agrees to furnish it military assistance; the Soviet Union extended diplomatic recognition to Hanoi on January 30. China and the Soviet Union provided massive military and economic aid to North Vietnam, which enabled North Vietnam to fight first the French and […]

1958

NHL is integrated

On January 18, 1958, hockey player Willie O’Ree of the Boston Bruins takes to the ice for a game against the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the first Black player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in 1935 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, O’Ree was the son of a civil engineer, in one of […]

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1968

Eartha Kitt speaks out against the Vietnam War

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1975

“Mandy” is Barry Manilow’s first #1 pop hit

Barry Manilow’s scores his first #1 single with “Mandy” on January 18, 1975. He would go on to sell more than 75 millions records over the course of his career. At the height of Barry Manilow’s popularity, none other than Frank Sinatra himself said of Manilow, “He’s next.” Yet even in his heyday, the more […]

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1985

Coen brothers release debut film, “Blood Simple”

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1990

Defendant in McMartin Preschool trials is acquitted

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1990

Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry arrested on drug charges

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1996

MLB owners approve interleague play

On January 18, 1996, Major League Baseball owners unanimously approve interleague play for the 1997 season. The owners’ vote, which called for each team to play 15 or 16 interleague games, breaks a 126-year tradition of teams only playing games within their league during the regular season. In defending the move, acting MLB commissioner Bud Selig […]

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2009

GM auctions off historic cars

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Citation Information

Article title: President John Tyler dies
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-18/john-tyler-dies

Date Accessed: July 15, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 28, 2025
Original Published Date: November 13, 2009

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