A 2013 - 2014 original C-SPAN feature series telling the stories of America's First Ladies - from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama -
through conversations with top experts, video tours of historic sites, and questions from C-SPAN's audience.

America's First Ladies — from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama
Julia Tyler
First Lady: 1841 - 1845
Click the list to watch videos
  • Anna Harrison, Letitia Tyler & Julia Tyler Program
  • Anna Harrison, Letitia Tyler and Julia Tyler: Opening clip
  • Introduction to Sherwood Forest
  • Julia Tyler avoiding shaking hands in White House
  • Sherwood Forest during Civil War
  • Another account of meeting President Tyler
  • Family's sense of history at Sherwood Forest
  • Children and Grandchildren
  • Approach to being First Lady
  • John Tyler's death after White House and start of First Ladies' pensions
  • Richard Norton Smith on Julia Tyler
  • Harrison Tyler tells story of how his grandparents met
  • Life at Sherwood Forest in Virginia
  • Payne Tyler on Julia Tyler's political influence
  • Meeting President Tyler
  • Decor in Sherwood Forest
  • Entertaining at Sherwood Forest
  • Author Bonnie Angelo on Julia Tyler
  • A brief introduction to Julia Tyler
  • Edith Mayo on Julia Tyler

Biography

Julia Tyler

John Tyler
This winter I intend to do something in the way of entertaining that shall be the admiration and talk of the Washington world.

Born - May 4, 1820 in Gardiner’s Island, New York

Parents - David Gardiner & Juliana McLachlan Gardiner

Married - June 26, 1844 to John Tyler

Children - David Gardiner (1846 – 1927),
John Alexander (1848 – 1883),
Julia (1849 – 1871),
Lachlan (1851 – 1902),
Lyon Gardiner (1853 – 1935),
Robert Fitzwalter (1856 – 1927),
Pearl (1860 – 1947)

Firsts - 1st First Lady to be photographed. 1st woman to marry a sitting President.

Post White House residence - Sherwood Forest, Richmond, Virginia

Died - July 10, 1889 in Richmond, Virginia

Click here to see full bio of Julia Tyler

Married President Tyler in 1844 and assumed the role as First Lady for the remainder of his term.

 
Did You Know Icon Did You Know...
Mrs. Tyler started the tradition of having the band play “Hail to the Chief” upon the entrance of the president into a room.
Before marrying the president, Mrs. Tyler’s father, a U.S. senator, was killed in an accident on the USS Princeton during a demonstration where she met President John Tyler.
After her husband died, Mrs. Tyler successfully lobbied Congress for a President’s widow’s pension.
Julia Tyler was the 1st First Lady to be photographed.
Julia Tyler was the first woman to marry a sitting President.
Mrs. Tyler met President Tyler on the USS Princeton, during a demonstration, her father, a U.S. senator, was killed in an accident.

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