Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/235

 TYLER

TYLER

TYLER, Erastus Barnard, soldier, was born in West Bloomfield, N.Y., April 24, 1823. He at- tended Granville college, Ohio, and engaged in business until April, 1861, when he joined the Federal army and was commissioned colonel of 7th Ohio volunteers. He took part in the Valley campaign, March 23-June 10, 1862, being engaged in the battles of Cross Keys, Winchester and Port Republic. He commanded the 1st brigade, 3d division, 5th army coi'ps, center grand divi- sion, Army of the Potomac, at Fredericksburg, Va., wliere he was wounded, Dec. 13, 1862, and in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was pro- moted brigadier-general. May 14, 1862, and was mustered out of service, Aug. 24, 1865. He en- gaged in business in Baltimore, and died at Cal- verton. Md., Jan. 9. 1891.

TYLER, James Hoge, governor of Virginia, was born in Caroline county, Va., Aug. 11, 1846; son of George Tyler. He attended Minor's acad- emic school, Albemarle county, Va., and in 1861 joined the Confederate army as a private, serving throughout the war. He was state senator in 1877 ; lieutenant-governor of Virginia, 1890-94, and was elected governor in 1897 for the term ex- piring in 1902. He then retired to his farm in Virginia and engaged in agriculture.

TYLER, John, governor of Virginia, was born in James City county, Va., Feb. 28, 1747 ; son of John and Anne (Contesse) Tyler ; grandson of John and Elizabeth (Low) Tyler and of Dr. Louis and Mary (Morris) Contesse ; great-grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Chiles) Tyler ; great-- grandson of Henry and Ann (Orchard) Tyler and of Walter and Susannah Chiles, and great-- grandson of Col. Walter Chiles, a member of the council of state in 1652. His fatlier, John Tyler, was marshal of the honorable court of the vice- admiralty of the colony of Virginia, and the last to hold that office under royal appointment in Virginia. His great'^-grandfather, Henry Tyler, emigrated, it is believed, from Shropshire, Eng- land, about 1640, and located two hundred and fifty-four acres of land at Middle Plantation (now Williamsburg). Va., where he was justice of the peace for York county in 1652. His maternal grandfather, Louis Contesse, a French Huguenot, immigrated to America about 1715, and practised medicine in Williamsburg, Va. John Tyler, the governor, attended the grammar school of William and Mary college, 1754, studied law under Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer of Virginia, and in 1772 began practice in Charles City county. He was a member of the vigilance committee to pre- vent the use of merchandise shipped from Great Britain ; led a company of volunteers to join Patrick Henry in reclaiming the powder for the colony, and on Sept. 11, 1775, was commissioned captain. He was appointed by ordinance of the

convention of July 5, 1776, one of the judges of admii'alty to pass upon cases under the ordinance for the seizure of the property of British subjects. He was married in 1776 to Mary, daughter of Robert Armistead, and a descendant of Col. Anthony and Hannah (EUyson) Armistead of Elizabeth City county. He was a member of the house of delegates, 1778-81 ; speaker of the house, 1781-85, and in 1780 was elected a member of the governor's council, but declined the honor and remained in the legislature. He drew the last bill for paper money in Virginia, and in 1784 moved to amend the Articles of Confederation with the consent of the twelve states. In 1785 he secured the passage of a resolution to convene an assembly of delegates at Annapolis to revise the articles, and the convention met, Sept. 5, 1786. In December, 1785, he was elected judge of the admiralty court, and on June 2, 1788, was a member of the convention to amend the Virginia constitution, and was chosen vice-president of the convention. He was judge of the general court of Virginia, 1788-1808, and in the case of Kamper vs. Hawkins, he affirmed tlie power of the courts to overrule any legislative acts conflicting with the constitution. This principle was sanctioned by the supreme court of the United States in 1801. He served as governor of Virginia from 1808 till 1811, when he resigned to accept the office of judge of the U.S. district court of Virginia, made vacant by the death of Judge Griffin, and passed upon the first prize case in the war of 1812. He was a visitor of William and Mary college, and in 1809 secured the establishment of the literary fund. He died at " Green way," Charles City county. Va., Jan. 6, 1813.

TYLER, John, tenth president of the United States, was born at " Greenway," Charles City county, Va., March 29, 1790; son of Governor John (q.v.) and Mary (Armistead) Tyler ; grandson of John and Anne (Contesse) Tj'ler, and of Robert and Anne (Shields) Armistead of York county, Va. He was graduated from Will- iam and Mary college in 1807 ; admitted to the bar in 1809, and established him- self in Charles City count}', obtaining an extensive practice. He was nominated for representative in the state legislature, in

1810, but declined the honor until December,

1811, when, having reached his majority, he