Lyon Gardiner Tyler

Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. (August 24, 1853 – February 12, 1935) was an American educator, politician, genealogist, and historian. He was a son of John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States. Tyler was the 17th president of the College of William & Mary. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1887 to 1889. He was also an advocate of historical research and preservation, and a prominent critic of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

Early life and education

Tyler was the fourth son of President John Tyler and First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler, and was born at his father's Sherwood Forest Plantation in Charles City County. The former president, a prominent slaveholder and secessionist, died in January 1862, when Lyon was eight years old. Since the American Civil War had begun, Union troops would occupy the plantation several months later during the Peninsular Campaign, as well as during the Overland Campaign of 1864.

Meanwhile, Julia Tyler moved with her children north to Staten Island, where she had relatives. Following the Civil War, Tyler returned to Virginia in 1869 to complete his studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in law from the University of Virginia, and graduated in 1875. While at the university he was a member of Kappa Sigma and the Jefferson Literary Society, and contributed to the school's literary magazine.

Early teaching, legal and political careers

Following graduation from the University of Virginia, Tyler spent a year teaching philosophy and literature at the College of William & Mary, near his family's Sherwood Forest plantation. Since the college was struggling financially, it stopped paying his salary. Tyler then resigned and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he spent several years as principal of a private school.