Tyler was the last of the Virginia aristocratic tobacco-planting elite to occupy the White House and was the last of the 19th century presidents to be raised in Virginia. His family traced its roots in the "Old Dominion" (Virginia's nickname) back to the 1650s. His father owned more than 1,000 acres of tobacco fields and many slaves as well.

Tyler's father served as governor of Virginia (as did John Tyler, in 1825-27) and was close to Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of the "Virginia dynasty," or ruling class. John Tyler was one of eight children. What did John Tyler do in 1809, the year his father became governor of Virginia?