# Help me remember an odd fact, likely presidential

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 8, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413 "2012-11-08T22:36:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/1 "2012-11-08T22:36:15Z")

</div>

I remember hearing an astounding fact perhaps a year ago, but the details have fled my brain. Help a brother out?

It has to do with someone, still alive today, who is the grandson (?) of a historic figure (president?) from long, long ago.

It goes something like this: Did you know that John Quincy Adams’ grandson is still alive?!?

Does this ring a bell? Does anyone know the specifics?

Thanks, as always,  
mmm

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/2 "2012-11-08T22:44:05Z")

</div>

> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> I remember hearing an astounding fact perhaps a year ago, but the details have fled my brain. Help a brother out?
> 
> It has to do with someone, still alive today, who is the grandson (?) of a historic figure (president?) from long, long ago.
> 
> It goes something like this: Did you know that John Quincy Adams’ grandson is still alive?!?
> 
> Does this ring a bell? Does anyone know the specifics?
> 
> Thanks, as always,  
> mmm

This story?

> [@](#):
>
> Pres. John Tyler’s Grandchildren Are Still Alive
> 
> Try to do the math on this: John Tyler, born in 1790, became the 10th president of the United States, taking office in 1841 after the death of William Henry Harrison. And two of his grandchildren are still alive!
> 
> […]

> **[10th President John Tyler's Grandsons Are Alive](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pres-john-tylers-grandchildren-still-alive_n_1232430)**
>
> 10th President John Tyler's Grandsons Are Alive

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/3 "2012-11-09T02:49:23Z")

</div>

That’s it!

Thanks, donnerwetter!  
mmm

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/4 "2012-11-09T03:10:58Z")

</div>

That’s simply amazing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/5 "2012-11-09T14:38:41Z")

</div>

I have a colleague, now 76, whose father was 60 when he was born and whose grandfather was 70 when his father was born. This means that his grandfather was born 206 years ago (although I think those ages were only approximate, if indeed the birth dates were even known; still over 200 years ago).

My thesis advisor, who died in 1999, was the grandson of the Harrison who was elected in 1884, I think it was Wm. Henry.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-an-odd-fact-likely-presidential/640413/6 "2012-11-09T15:30:22Z")

</div>

My paternal grandfather was born in 1863. You know that shorthand way of identifying about when you were born by who was POTUS at the time? I’m an Eisenhower baby. Dad was a Taft baby. Grandfather was a Lincoln baby.