Letitia Semple
Letitia "Letty" Christian Semple (née Tyler, May 11, 1821 – December 28, 1907) was an American society lady, educator, and briefly an unofficial First Lady during her father John Tyler's presidency. The National First Ladies' Library named Semple and her sister-in-law Priscilla Tyler "First ladies who never married presidents".[1] Semple served in this role from March to June 1844.
Letitia Semple | |
|---|---|
 Semple in 1850 | |
| Born | Letitia Christian Tyler May 11, 1821 Charles City County, Virginia |
| Died | December 28, 1907 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Acting as First Lady |
| Spouse(s) | James A. Semple |
| Parent(s) | John Tyler Letitia Christian Tyler |
| Relatives | Priscilla Tyler (sister-in-law) Julia Gardiner Tyler (stepmother) |
Governor Robert Love Taylor described Semple as "The most notable Southern woman surviving the classic old régime".[2]
Biography
Semple was born Letitia "Letty" Christian Tyler to John Tyler (the son of John Tyler Sr.) and his first wife Letitia Christian Tyler on May 11, 1821 in Charles City County, Virginia.[3] She was their fourth child and second daughter.
In February 1839, Semple married James A. Semple at the age of 17.[4] When her father assumed the presidency on April 4, 1841, Semple and her husband had become estranged because of his mental illness, and she moved into the White House with her parents and siblings.[1] Semple was the sister of Robert Tyler, who married Priscilla, then named Priscilla Cooper. Together Semple and Priscilla acted as unofficial First Ladies and White House hostesses after the death of Semple's mother Letitia Christian Tyler and before President Tyler married his second wife Julia Gardiner Tyler. This meant during President Tyler's one term as president, four lades served as First Lady, though two were in that role unofficially.[1] Semple served in this role from March to June 1844.[4]
During the American Civil War, Semple served as a volunteer nurse for Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Manassas in Williamsburg, Virginia. At the end of the war, she opened a school, called the Eclectic Institute, located in Baltimore, Maryland.[5] The Institute enrolled approximately 20 young ladies at a time.[6]
Semple and her stepmother Julia Gardiner Tyler never got along; "Refusing to show her the most basic civility, [Semple] forever resented her stepmother and there would be no reconciliation."[4] In the 1870s, William Wilson Corcoran gave Semple room and board at the Louise Home, "which he created for elderly women of distinguished background who found themselves in genteel poverty."[4] During this time, she was befriended by First Ladies Lucy Hayes and Ida McKinley, the latter of whom lent Semple her horse and carriage when needed. Semple and her husband never reconciled, and never had any children together. Semple died December 28, 1907 during a trip to Baltimore.[3]
References
- Anthony, Carl (October 20, 2014). "First Ladies Who Never Married Presidents: Priscilla Tyler & Letty Tyler Semple". National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- Willets, Gilson (1908). "President Tyler's Daughter: Letitia Tyler-Semple". Victorian Villa. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- Quinn-Musgrove, Sandra L.; Kanter, Sanford (1995). America's Royalty: All the Presidents' Children. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 58. ISBN 9780313295355.
- "First Lady Biography: Letitia Tyler". National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- "Letitia Tyler". Women's History Blog. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- De la Cova, Antonio Rafael (2003). Cuban Confederate Colonel: The Life of Ambrosio Josʹe Gonzales. University of South Carolina Press. p. 306. ISBN 9781570034961.