Daniel Tyler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel P. Tyler IV
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General Daniel Tyler
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| Born | January 7, 1799 Brooklyn, Connecticut |
| Died | November 30, 1882 (aged 83) New York City, New York |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1819 – 1834; 1861 – 1864 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 1st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Iron manufacturer Railroad President |
Daniel P. Tyler IV (born January 7, 1799 – died November 30, 1882) was an important person in American history. He was a general during the American Civil War, fighting for the Union Army. Before and after the war, he was also a successful businessman, leading railroad companies and making iron.
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Early Life and Family
Daniel P. Tyler IV was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut. His father, Daniel P. Tyler III, was a soldier who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War. His mother, Sarah Edwards Tyler, was the granddaughter of a famous religious leader named Jonathan Edwards.
Daniel Tyler had a nephew, Robert O. Tyler, who also became a general in the Civil War. This shows that military service was important in their family.
Education and Early Career
In 1819, Daniel Tyler graduated from the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. He became an expert in artillery, which means he knew a lot about cannons and other large guns. He was also known for being very honest when inspecting weapons made by private companies. Even though he was good at his job, he only reached the rank of first lieutenant in the army.
In May 1832, Daniel Tyler married Emily Lee. They had five children together. One of his granddaughters, Gertrude, later became the mother of Edith Carow Roosevelt. Edith married Theodore Roosevelt and became the First Lady of the United States.
Life After the Army
Daniel Tyler left the U.S. Army in May 1834. After leaving the military, he started a new career in business. He became an iron manufacturer, building special factories called blast furnaces and rolling mills to make iron products.
He also became a leader in the railroad industry. He was the president of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad and, for five years, the Macon and Western Railroad in Georgia. Later, he worked as an engineer and president for other railroads, like the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad. He found more success in building and managing railroads than in making iron at this time.
Service in the American Civil War
When the Civil War began in 1861, Daniel Tyler volunteered to help. He first served as an assistant to a general named Robert Patterson. He also briefly led the 1st Connecticut Infantry Regiment.
First Battle of Bull Run
On May 10, 1861, Daniel Tyler was made a brigadier general in the Connecticut Militia. He commanded a group of soldiers in General Irvin McDowell's army, which was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia. He fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, which was one of the first major battles of the Civil War. The Union Army lost this battle, and some people blamed Daniel Tyler for part of the defeat. Even so, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in March 1862.
Later War Service
After Bull Run, General Tyler was sent to the western part of the country. He commanded a group of soldiers during the Siege of Corinth in 1862.
Later, in September 1862, his group of soldiers surrendered to Confederate forces led by General Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Harpers Ferry. The Union soldiers were released but had to wait at a place called Camp Douglas before they could return to fighting. Daniel Tyler took temporary command of Camp Douglas. The conditions there were difficult for the soldiers. He was relieved of command in November 1862.
After this, General Tyler commanded troops in different locations, including Baltimore and again at Harpers Ferry.
Later Life and Legacy
Daniel Tyler left the Union Army on April 6, 1864. He was older than 65, which was the retirement age for generals. He first moved to New Jersey.
In the 1870s, he moved to Alabama and helped create the town of Anniston. The town was named after his daughter-in-law. In Anniston, he started another iron manufacturing company and became president of the Mobile and Montgomery Railroad. He also bought a lot of land in Guadalupe County, Texas.
Daniel Tyler died in New York City on November 30, 1882, while visiting there. He is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Anniston, Alabama, the town he helped found.
His granddaughter, Edith Carow Roosevelt, became the First Lady of the United States when she married President Theodore Roosevelt. His nephew, Robert O. Tyler, also served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War.
