Video: '#10 John Tyler'

(Saturday, January 18, 1862, 12:15 a.m. local time) — John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the 10th vice president in 1841, died early today in Richmond, Virginia, most likely due to a stroke, at age 71.

Tyler was the first vice president to succeed to the presidency without being elected following the death of President William Henry Harrison on Apr. 4, 1841.

He was a stalwart supporter and advocate of states’ rights, including regarding slavery, and he adopted nationalistic policies as president only when they did not infringe on the powers of the states.

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Tyler sided with the Confederacy and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives shortly before his death. His death was the only one in presidential history not to be officially recognized in Washington, because of his allegiance to the Confederate States of America.