LYON GARDINER TYLER,
Was born at his father's residence, "Sherwood Forest," in Charles City
county, Virginia, in August, 1853. He is a son of President John Tyler,
by his second marriage, with Julia Gardiner of Gardiners Island,
New York. The founder of the Tyler family in Virginia was Henry
Tyler, who came from England and settled at Middle Plantation in
1653. Further records of this eminent family will be found on many
of the preceding pages of Virginia and Virginians, more especially in
Volume 1, pp. 103-108.
The wife of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, whom he married in Pulaski county,
Virginia, November 14, 1878, was born in Charlottsville, Virginia,
Annie, daughter of Col. St. George Tucker, son of Judge St.
George Tucker, whose father was Judge St. George Tucker, who came
from Island of Bermuda to Virginia. Her mother is Lizzie, daughter
of Thomas W. Gilmer, former Secretary of the Navy, whose wife was
Anne Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have three children: Julia Gardiner,
Lizzie Gilmer and John.
Mr. Tyler finished his education at the University of Virginia, which
he entered in February, 1870, graduating in July, 1875, with Degrees
of Bachelor and Master of Arts. During his University career he was
twice elected orator of the Jefferson Society, and obtained a scholarship
as best editor of the University magazine. The year following his
graduation he studied law with John B. Minor, Esq. In January,
1877, he was elected Professor of Belles Lettres in William and Mary
College, which position he ably filled until, in November, 1878, he went
to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was head of a high school for four
years. In September, 1882, he returned to Virginia, settled in Richmond,
practiced law, and took an active interest in politics. In 1885
he ran for the House of Delegates, one of seven candidates, but was
not elected. In 1887 he was again nominated for Representative and
was elected. In the House of Delegates he rendered distinguished service
to Virginia, successfully championing the labor bureau, child labor,
and William and Mary College bills, all of which he argued were necessary
for the education of the people and the best interests of the State.
Mr. Tyler is the author of "The Letters and Times of the Tylers,"
spoken of on page 107 of this work, a work not only of value as a
biography of his grandfather, Governor Tyler, and his father, the
President, but also as an authentic and interesting history of events
from 1776 to 1861. On August, 22, 1888, Mr. Tyler received merited
recognition as a scholar, a literateur, and a Virginian, in his election to
the position he now fills, as President of William and Mary College.
