John Tayler

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John Tayler

John Tayler (July 4, 1742 - March 19, 1829) was an American businessman and politician. He served nine years as lieutenant governor, four months as Acting Governor of New York, and also in both houses of the New York Legislature.

He was born in New York City and spent his young manhood as a trader among British forts and later as a farmer and shopkeeper in northern New York State. He married Margarita Van Valkenburgh in 1764, and was very successful in business, building or acquiring several different enterprises and a great deal of real estate.

Tayler was soon caught up in the hostilities that would become the Revolutionary War. His farm was near the site of the Battle of Saratoga. Gradually he was drawn into public service for the new United States, in addition to using his businesses to supply meat and clothing for the American armies.

By the time his political beliefs had developed, he identified himself as a Democratic-Republican and an Antifederalist.

He represented Albany County in the New York State Assembly three times (1777-1779, 1780-1781, and 1785-1787). He was appointed City Recorder (Deputy Mayor) of Albany in 1793, and a justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1797. He served in the New York State Senate from 1802 to 1813. In August 1810 he was the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate and became Acting Lieutenant Governor after the death in office of Lieutenant Governor Broome, and served until the end of June 1811 when he was succeeded by DeWitt Clinton who had been elected Lt. Gov. under the provisions of Article XX of the New York State Constitution of 1777.

Tayler was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1813, remaining in office until 1822, first under Daniel D. Tompkins and then under De Witt Clinton, with a brief interruption when he served as Acting Governor from February 24 to June 30, 1817 after Tompkins resigned to assume the Vice Presidency of the United States under President James Monroe.

Article XVII of the New York State Constitution of 1777 said that "...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 the New York State Assembly on 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 1817 DeWitt Clinton was elected Governor, and Tayler was re-elected Lt. Gov.

The mortal duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804 began with ill words spoken at Tayler's home in Albany.

John Tayler died on March 19, 1829 in Albany, New York. He is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.

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Preceded by John Broome	Lieutenant Governor of New York acting 1811	Succeeded by DeWitt Clinton
Preceded by Dewitt Clinton	Lieutenant Governor of New York 1813 - 1817	Succeeded by (unknown)
Preceded by Daniel D. Tompkins	Governor of New York acting 1817	Succeeded by DeWitt Clinton
Preceded by (unknown)	Lieutenant Governor of New York 1817 - 1822	Succeeded by Erastus Root