On April 6, 1841, John Tyler was sworn in as president. Tyler
was elected as William Harrison’s vice president earlier in
1841 and was suddenly thrust into the role of president when
Harrison died one month into office.
He was the first vice president to immediately assume the role
of president after a sitting president’s untimely exit and set the
precedent for succession thereafter.
This 1888 engraving depicts a messenger delivering the news of President William Henry Harrison’s death to Vice President John
Tyler at his Williamsburg home on April 5, 1841.
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