Happy birthday, President John Tyler

It is the birthday of John Tyler (1790), who is considered by scholars to be one of the worst U.S. presidents in history. He became the 10th president, succeeding William Henry Harrison upon Harrison’s death. Originally a Democrat, Tyler ran on the Whig ticket with Harrison. When he became president, he managed to alienate both the Democrats and the Whigs, crippling his presidency. When the South seceded from the Union, Tyler was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives.