The last surviving grandson of President John Tyler, who left the presidential office in 1845, has passed away. Harrison Ruffin Tyler died on Sunday at the age of 96, as confirmed by Annique Dunning, executive director of Sherwood Forest, the Virginia residence of the Tyler family since the conclusion of John Tyler’s presidency. Tyler, who had suffered strokes in recent years, died of natural causes.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler had a successful career as a chemical engineer before dedicating his resources and time to preserving historical sites. According to Dunning, Tyler’s passion for history and his birthplace led him to preserve both Sherwood Forest, President Tyler’s home, and Fort Pocahontas, a nearby Civil War site. Those who knew him remembered him for his charm, generosity, and good humor.
Throughout his life, Tyler expressed that he had not considered his lineage important during his youth, particularly during the World War II era. However, as he aged, his familial connections became a source of pride and amusement. He reflected on the disconnect of having a grandfather from the 1700s during media coverage in 2012.
John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States, first assumed office in 1841 following the death of William Henry Harrison. His presidency was marked by his opposition to his own Whig Party, the annexation of Texas, and his support of states’ rights. Tyler had eight children with his first wife, Letitia, who passed away in 1842. In 1844, he married Julia Gardiner, a New York socialite, under unexpected circumstances that included a naval accident.
After finishing his presidency, John Tyler and Julia Gardiner moved to Sherwood Forest near Richmond, where they raised seven children. Their third youngest, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, had two sons with his second wife, Sue Ruffin. Harrison Ruffin Tyler, born in 1928, was the second of these sons.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler showed considerable talent in mathematics, securing a scholarship to the College of William & Mary at 16. Despite a prominent family history, Tyler’s upbringing was modest, and his education was supported financially by unexpected benefactors.
After completing his studies in chemical engineering, Tyler co-founded ChemTreat, an industrial water treatment company with significant clients such as Kraft Foods and Ford Motor Company. The company implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and upon Tyler’s retirement in 2000, employees gained controlling interest.
In 1975, Tyler and his wife, Frances Payne Bouknight Tyler, acquired Sherwood Forest, restoring it to its previous state based on historic family sources. Tyler also purchased Fort Pocahontas in 1996, a site of Civil War significance, furthering preservation efforts through family foundations.
Tyler’s philanthropic activity included a $5 million donation to William & Mary to support historical research and lectures, with the institution honoring his contributions by naming a department after him.
Although acknowledging his grandfather’s complex legacy, Harrison Ruffin Tyler defended his efforts towards peace during the pre-Civil War era and dismissed any interest in perpetuating the family’s tradition regarding late parenthood.
Frances Payne Bouknight Tyler, his wife, preceded him in death in 2019, followed by his brother Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. in 2020. Harrison Ruffin Tyler is survived by his children and great-grandchildren, and Sherwood Forest will continue under family stewardship, as noted by Dunning.
