John Tayler

For the English painter, seeJohn Frederick Tayler.For the English Unitarian minister, seeJohn James Tayler.

Not to be confused withJohn Tyler.

John Tayler
5thGovernor of New York
Acting
In office February 24, 1817 – June 30, 1817
Lieutenant	Philetus Swift(acting)
Preceded by	Daniel D. Tompkins
Succeeded by	DeWitt Clinton
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office July 1, 1817 – December 31, 1822
Governor	DeWitt Clinton
Preceded by	Philetus Swift (acting)
Succeeded by	Erastus Root
In office July 1, 1813 – February 24, 1817
Governor	Daniel D. Tompkins
Preceded by	DeWitt Clinton
Succeeded by	Philetus Swift (acting)
Lieutenant Governor of New York
Acting
In office January 29, 1811 – May 2, 1811
Governor	Daniel D. Tompkins
Preceded by	John Broome
Succeeded by	DeWitt Clinton
Personal details
Born	(1742-07-04)July 4, 1742 New York City,Province of New York,British America
Died	March 19, 1829(1829-03-19)(aged 86) Albany, New York,U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Margarita Van Valkenburgh
Signature

John Tayler(July 4, 1742 – March 19, 1829) was a merchant and politician. He served nine years as thelieutenant governor of New York,four months acting as the fifthgovernor of New York,and also in both houses of theNew York State Legislature.

Life

He was a trader, farmer, and shopkeeper inAlbany, New York.He married Margarita Van Valkenburgh in 1764.

Tayler was a Patriot during theRevolutionary War.He was drawn into public service for the Colonies.

He was a member from Albany County in theNew York State Assemblyfrom 1777 to 1779, in 1780–81, and from 1785 to 1787. He was appointed City Recorder (Deputy Mayor) of Albany in 1793, and First Judge of the Albany County Court in 1797. In1798,he ran forU.S. Senator from New York,but was defeated byFederalistJames Watson.He served in theNew York State Senatefrom 1804 to 1813. On January 29, 1811, he was electedPresident pro tempore of the State Senateand was Acting Lieutenant Governor,Lt. Gov. John Broomehaving died in August 1810. He served until the end of June 1811 when he was succeeded byDeWitt Clintonwho had been elected Lt. Gov. in aspecial electionunder the provisions of Article XX of theNew York State Constitution of 1777.

Taylerwas electedLieutenant Governor in 1813, and re-elected in 1816, on the ticket withDaniel D. Tompkins.After Tompkins' resignation to assume the office ofVice President of the United States,Tayler served as Acting Governor from February 24 to June 30, 1817.

Article XVII of theNew York State Constitution of 1777states "...as often as the seat of government shall become vacant, a wise and descreet freeholder of this State shall be, by ballot, elected governor,..., which elections shall be always held at the times and places of choosing representatives in assembly..." This meant that, whenever a vacancy occurred, the Lt. Gov. did not succeed to the governor's office but administrated the state only until the end of the yearly term of theNew York State Assemblyon June 30, the successor being elected in April. This was the only occurrence of a vacancy of the governor's office under this Constitution, and in April 1817DeWitt Clintonwas elected Governor. Tayler was re-elected Lt. Gov. and re-elected in 1820.

The duel betweenAlexander HamiltonandAaron Burrin 1804 is linked to comments spoken by Hamilton at Tayler's home in Albany, which were related in a letter written by Tayler's son-in-law, Dr.Charles D. Cooper,which was later published in an Albany newspaper.

Tayler was apresidential electorin1828,voting forAndrew JacksonandJohn C. Calhoun.

The gravesite of Governor Tayler

Tayler died on March 19, 1829, in Albany. He was buried inAlbany Rural CemeteryinMenands, New York.

Sources

• Barbagallo, Tricia (March 10, 2007)."Fellow Citizens Read a Horrid Tale"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 19, 2009.RetrievedJune 4,2008.
• The People of Colonial Albany – John Tayler
• The Political Graveyard