David Gardiner Tyler

David Gardiner Tyler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	John W. Lawson
Succeeded by	William A. Young
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 38th district
In office December 6, 1899 – January 13, 1904
Preceded by	Manly H. Barnes
Succeeded by	George W. Anderson Arthur C. Harman
In office December 2, 1891 – December 6, 1893
Preceded by	L. M. Nance
Succeeded by	Manly H. Barnes
Personal details
Born	(1846-07-12)July 12, 1846 East Hampton, New York
Died	September 5, 1927(1927-09-05) (aged 81) Sherwood Forest Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia
Resting place	Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Morris Jones
Children	Mary Margaret David James John
Parent(s)	John Tyler Julia Gardiner Tyler
Residence(s)	Sherwood Forest Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia
Alma mater	Washington College
Profession	lawyer, judge
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1863–1865
Rank	Private
Unit	Rockbridge Artillery
Battles/wars	American Civil War

David Gardiner Tyler (July 12, 1846 – September 5, 1927) was an American politician and the ninth child and fourth son of John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States.

Born in New York, Tyler went to school in Virginia and fought in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. After attending college in Germany and Virginia, he became a lawyer. He later served in the Virginia State Senate, as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 2nd congressional district, and as a Virginia Circuit Court judge.

Tyler was born in East Hampton, New York and was the first child born to former United States president John Tyler and his second wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler. He was named after his late maternal grandfather, David Gardiner. As a child, he attended private schools in Charles City County, Virginia.^{[citation needed]}

In 1862, he entered present-day Washington and Lee University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, but dropped out the following year to fight in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in 1865. Following the war, he and his brother, John Alexander Tyler, traveled to Germany,^[1] and attended school in the Grand Duchy of Baden. He returned to the United States, and graduated from the Washington and Lee School of Law in 1869.^[2]

From 1870 to 1884, Tyler practiced law in Richmond, Virginia, before accepting an appointment as director of the state lunatic asylum in Williamsburg, Virginia, serving until 1887. From 1891 to 1892, he served in the Virginia State Senate, and on the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary.^[2]

In 1892, Tyler was first elected to the United States House of Representatives as the representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district, defeating independent Republicans P. C. Garrigan and John F. Deyendorf, H. S. Collier, and independent George E. Bowden. He won 55.61 percent of the vote.^{[citation needed]}

Tyler began serving in the House in 1893.^[2] In 1894, he was reelected, defeating Republican Thomas R. Borland and independent T. J. Edwards, and winning 56.27 percent of the vote.^{[citation needed]} However, Tyler was defeated for renomination in 1896. He subsequently left the House in 1897 and returned to private law practice until his reelection to the state Senate, where he served from 1900 to 1904. From 1904 until his death in 1927, he served as a Virginia Circuit Court judge.^[2]

Tyler was married to the former Mary Morris Jones (1865–1931). Together, they were the parents of five children, four of whom survived to adulthood:^[3]

• Mary Lyon Tyler (1895–1975),^[4] who married George Peterkin Gamble (1899–1986).
• Margaret Gardiner Tyler (1897–1981), who married Stephen F. Chadwick (1894–1975), grandson of Stephen F. Chadwick, the fifth governor of Oregon.
• David Gardiner Tyler Jr. (1899–1993), who married Anne Morton Shelton (1900–1977).^[5]
• James Alfred Jones Tyler (1902–1972), who married Katherine Thomason (1909–1967).^[6]
• John Tyler (1905–1907), who died young.

Tyler died at Sherwood Forest Plantation and is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.^[2]

• David Gardiner Tyler at Find a Grave