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Her daughter said that “our dear mother” was “far more attractive to me … than any other lady in the world.”
First Ladies of the US Letitia Tyler Full Image

Letitia Tyler

Letitia Christian Tyler
Years of service: 1841-1842
Born: 1790

First Ladies of the US Letitia Tyler Full Image

Married life was bustling for Letitia, and she spent the early years supervising the large Tyler plantation and raising seven children. Her busy life ended abruptly in 1839 when she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and needing a “rolling chair” for mobility. When John Tyler unexpectedly became president after William Henry Harrison’s death, she gamely accompanied him to the White House. She spent the next ten months confined to the private quarters on the second floor, appearing only in the East Room to attend her daughter Elizabeth’s wedding. Letitia suffered a devastating stroke shortly afterward, gaining the distinction of becoming the first First Lady to die in the White House.

 

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Leaders in Literacy

4/30/2024 through 4/30/2025

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First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians.

The right to an education is a foundational principle of America’s history, and many First Ladies have taken up this cause. We celebrate National First Ladies Day by kicking off this featured exhibit, presented by Huntington Bank.