Lyon Gardiner Tyler

Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. was born on August 24, 1853, at Sherwood Forest Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia. He was the son of John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States, and Julia Gardiner Tyler. Tyler was the fourth son in his family. His father died in January 1862, when Lyon was eight years old. During the American Civil War, Union troops occupied Sherwood Forest Plantation, which had been owned by his father, and subsequently, Julia Tyler moved with her children to Staten Island to reside with relatives.

Tyler pursued higher education at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he completed both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in law, graduating in 1875. During his university years, he was a member of Kappa Sigma and the Jefferson Literary Society, and contributed to the university’s literary magazine.

Following graduation, Tyler taught philosophy and literature at the College of William & Mary for approximately one year, though his position was terminated due to the college’s financial difficulties. He then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he served as a principal of a private school for several years. In 1882, Tyler returned to Virginia and commenced practicing law in Richmond, supported by his mother. During this period, he began research on the careers of his father and paternal grandfather, John Tyler Sr., resulting in the publication of a three-volume work titled *The Letters and Times of the Tylers* between 1884 and 1896.

Tyler was active in Virginia’s public education reform and helped revive the Virginia Mechanics Institute, serving as both a board member and instructor. In 1887, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Richmond, alongside three other members. His advocacy contributed to the allocation of funds for the restoration of the College of William & Mary; the college reopened in 1888, and subsequently, Tyler was appointed its president.

He served as the 17th president of the College of William & Mary from 1888 to 1919. During his presidency, Tyler worked to restore the college’s financial stability and oversaw infrastructural improvements, including renovations and new constructions. He was chairman of the history department and co-founded the *William and Mary Quarterly* journal. Tyler supported women’s suffrage and was involved in efforts to admit women to the college, which occurred in 1918. He was a strong proponent of the preservation of Virginia’s historical records and effective in securing public funds for such purposes, including a 1896 appropriation of $5,000 for copying 17th-century court records.

Throughout his career, Tyler was an active member of the Virginia Historical Society, serving on its executive committee and as vice president for many years. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society and contributed substantially to the historiography of Jamestown and Williamsburg, emphasizing their importance in American history.

Late in his life, Tyler was known for his critical views of President Abraham Lincoln. His criticisms became more pronounced after 1917, coinciding with his public statements and publications. Notably, he contended that Lincoln did not deserve honors typically accorded to him and authored articles in his publication *Tyler’s Quarterly and Genealogical Magazine* that were highly critical of Lincoln. His works included the pamphlet *A Confederate Catechism*, published in 1929, which expressed his opinions on the Civil War and slavery.

Tyler married twice. His first wife was Anne Baker Tucker, with whom he had three children: John Tyler, Elizabeth Gilmer Tyler, and Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson. After Anne’s death in 1921, he married Sue Ruffin in 1923. With Sue Ruffin, he had three additional children: Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr., Harrison Ruffin Tyler, and Henry Tyler (who died in infancy).

Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. died of pneumonia on February 12, 1935, in Richmond, Virginia. He is interred at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. His childhood home, Sherwood Forest Plantation, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The College of William & Mary’s Special Collections contains his personal papers and documentation from his tenure as president. The Tyler Garden at William & Mary, dedicated to him, his father, and grandfather, was established on the college campus.

Following broader reevaluations of historical figures in the 21st century, Tyler’s name was removed from several William & Mary institutions in 2020 due to his association with segregationist policies.