Age, Biography, and Wiki
Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born on November 9, 1928, in Charles City County, Virginia. He was the son of Lyon Gardiner Tyler and Susan Ruffin Tyler. His paternal grandparents were Julia Gardiner and John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States. Tyler grew up during the Great Depression, facing financial challenges despite his distinguished lineage. He passed away on May 25, 2025, at the age of 96.
| Occupation | Engineers |
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| Date of Birth | 9 November 1928 |
| Age | 96 Years |
| Birth Place | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 25 May, 2025 |
| Died Place | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
Height, Weight & Measurements
There is no publicly available information regarding Harrison Ruffin Tyler's height, weight, or detailed measurements.
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Dating & Relationship Status
While specific details about Tyler's personal relationships are not extensively documented, he was married and had children, including a son named William, who oversees the management of Sherwood Forest Plantation.
His paternal grandparents were Julia Gardiner and President Tyler. Through his mother, he was a descendant of the Harrison family and a great-grandson of Edmund Ruffin.. He was also descended from Robert Carter I and Pocahontas. His mother was a teacher and caretaker of the family's historical documents.
Tyler grew up poor during the Great Depression; his father died when he was a boy, and he was homeschooled by his mother and then attended Charles City County public schools. He also attended St. Christopher's School. He had an older brother, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. Likely through his father's friendship with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tyler's education at the College of William & Mary was funded by Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, with a $5,000 check. He graduated with a degree in chemistry in 1949. Due to a shortage of employment opportunities in chemistry, Tyler continued his education at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he received a second bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1951.
Tyler was a preservationist. His family purchased the Sherwood Forest Plantation from relatives in 1975 and oversaw its restoration. Tyler had spoken publicly of his family's history. In 1996, he purchased and financially supported the preservation of Fort Pocahontas. Beginning in 1997, Tyler sponsored annual American Civil War reenactments at Wilson's Wharf. In 1997, he collaborated with the William & Mary Center for Archaeological Research to assess and research Fort Pocahontas. In 2001, he donated $5 million and 22,000 books and documents from his father to the College of William & Mary department of history. In 2012, he told New York magazine that he didn’t have much interest in modern politics. Around that year the college renamed the department the Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History in his honor.
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| Husband | Frances Payne Bouknight (m. July 1957-February 8, 2019) |
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Net Worth and Salary
Harrison Ruffin Tyler's net worth is not explicitly stated in available sources. However, his successful career as a chemical engineer and co-founder of ChemTreat, Inc., along with his extensive involvement in historical preservation efforts, suggest a substantial financial standing. His family's historical significance and contributions to preserving sites like Sherwood Forest Plantation indicate a considerable wealth legacy.
Career, Business, and Investments
Tyler's career was marked by his accomplishments in both engineering and historical preservation:
- ChemTreat, Inc.: He co-founded this water treatment company in 1968.
- Sherwood Forest Plantation: In 1975, Tyler purchased and restored this historical site, which was his grandfather's residence for the last twenty years of his life.
- Preservation Efforts: Tyler was instrumental in preserving historical sites and donating historical materials to institutions like the College of William & Mary.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler (November 9, 1928 – May 25, 2025) was an American preservationist who, at the time of his death in 2025, was the last surviving grandson of the tenth U.S. president, John Tyler (1790–1862). He was prominent in preserving historical sites such as Sherwood Forest Plantation and Fort Pocahontas, while also donating historical materials and funds to the history department at the College of William & Mary, which bears his name. Tyler was also a chemical engineer and business man who co-founded ChemTreat, Inc., a water treatment company.
After graduating from Virginia Tech, Tyler worked as a project manager for Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corporation, where he led a plant in Charleston, South Carolina. Tyler became familiar with soft water and learned how to treat hard water when he worked as a start-up engineer for a plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received a patent in water treatment pertaining to shiny aluminium. In 1963, Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corporation was acquired by Mobil. The change in corporate culture prompted Tyler to leave the company and found ChemTreat, Inc., with partner William P. Simmons. The water treatment company was headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia. He used chemistry to address problems with industrial water cooling systems. The company worked with hospitals and the paper and pulp sector. In 2000, Tyler led an employee stock ownership program at his company. ChemTreat was acquired by the Danaher Corporation in 2007.
Social Network
There is no information available about Tyler's presence on social media platforms, as his life and career predated the widespread use of these platforms.
Education
Harrison Ruffin Tyler pursued his higher education with the support of a $5,000 grant, believed to have been provided by Franklin D. Roosevelt, a close friend of his father. He graduated with a degree in chemistry from the College of William & Mary in 1949 and later received a degree in chemical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1951.