A President and His Grandchildren (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

This is not exactly a trivia question (since I'll give you the answer) but it is an interesting one.

What President who served before Lincoln (actually this President served before James Polk (who served from 1845-1849)) and who was born in the 18th century (i.e., the 1700s; 1790 to be exact) has grandchildren that are still alive in 2011?

The answer: John Tyler.

It's true. In yesterday's column of Disunion in the New York Times, which traces the daily chronology of events leading up to outbreak of the Civil War, the article was about John Tyler and his unsuccessful peace conference.

In the article, it said that President Tyler had fathered no fewer than 15 children, the latest one at age 70 and that child lived until 1947. Two of his grandchildren, Lyon and Harrison Tyler, are still alive today, 221 years after his birth.

That is simply amazing.

 

[lancer]

This is not exactly a trivia question (since I'll give you the answer) but it is an interesting one.

What President who served before Lincoln (actually this President served before James Polk (who served from 1845-1849)) and who was born in the 18th century (i.e., the 1700s; 1790 to be exact) has grandchildren that are still alive in 2011?

The answer: John Tyler.

It's true. In yesterday's column of Disunion in the New York Times, which traces the daily chronology of events leading up to outbreak of the Civil War, the article was about John Tyler and his unsuccessful peace conference.

In the article, it said that President Tyler had fathered no fewer than 15 children, the latest one at age 70 and that child lived until 1947. Two of his grandchildren, Lyon and Harrison Tyler, are still alive today, 221 years after his birth.

That is simply amazing.

This is incredible. The only way I figure this is possible is for Tyler's kids to have had their children (the Grandkids) really late in life, as well. Great fact.^&grin -- Al

 

[Currahee Chris]

That is simply amazing.

Got that right- that is amazing!! Thanks for the story Brad- that's a winner!!

 

[jazzeum]

The presumption was that the two grandchildren were the sons of his daughter Pearl who died in 1947. However, a reader of the series looked it up and Tyler's two living grandsons were through Tyler's son Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1853–1935). Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr., was born in 1924, and Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928. Just like his father, the son was pretty active into his 70s. That's impressive

 

[Louis Badolato]

The presumption was that the two grandchildren were the sons of his daughter Pearl who died in 1947. However, a reader of the series looked it up and Tyler's two living grandsons were through Tyler's son Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1853–1935). Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr., was born in 1924, and Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928. Just like his father, the son was pretty active into his 70s. That's impressive

It is humbling to think that two generations of President Tyler's family span the period of 1790 to 2011, touching four centuries. Plus it must be cool to be able to say "my grandfather was the president."

 

[Ghostrider]

Brad, that's an incredible piece of history. And I wouldn't mind being blessed with that longevity gene pool................Joe