[jariel]

Quote:

Former President John Tyler, born 221 years ago, still has two living grandchildren. The one-term president isn't a well-known historical figure; he's probably best remembered for helping to push through the annexation of Texas in 1845, shortly before leaving office.

So, how is it possible that a former president who died 150 years ago would still have direct descendents alive today? As it turns out, the Tyler men were known for fathering children late in life. And that math is pretty outstanding when added up:

John Tyler was born in 1790. He became the 10th president of the United States in 1841 after William Henry Harrison died in office. Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler in 1853, at age 63. Then, at the age of 71, Lyon Gardiner Tyler fathered Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. in 1924 and four years later at age 75, Harrison Ruffin Tyler. Both men are still alive today.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/for...30189.html

[Excelsior]

Interesting story. I love tracking lineages-its a fun time waster, and Wikipedia makes it very easy. I know there's not much I can get out of knowing that Nancy Reagan was a direct descendant of Pocahontas (no, seriously), but its just cool to know. I love history.

[Deluge]

(01-29-2012 02:23 AM)Athlone McGinnis Wrote:  

Interesting story. I love tracking lineages-its a fun time waster, and Wikipedia makes it very easy. I know there's not much I can get out of knowing that Nancy Reagan was a direct descendant of Pocahontas (no, seriously), but its just cool to know. I love history.

You and I have that in common. I just found out today that at minimum half of Ron Paul's ancestry goes back to the German state of Hesse (home to Frankfurt).