James Manning Tyler

James Manning Tyler (April 27, 1835 – October 13, 1926) was an American politician, lawyer, and judge from Vermont who served as a Republican U.S. Representative for two terms from 1879 to 1883. He was born in Wilmington, Vermont, the son of Ephraim Tyler and Mary (Bissell) Tyler, and grew up in the rural environment of southern Vermont. His early years in Wilmington shaped his familiarity with the concerns of small-town residents and agricultural communities that he would later represent in public office.

Tyler pursued his education at Brattleboro Academy in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he received a preparatory education that enabled him to enter the legal profession. He subsequently studied law at Albany Law School in Albany, New York, one of the leading law institutions of the period. He graduated from Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar in September 1860, returning to Vermont to begin the practice of law. His admission to the bar on the eve of the Civil War placed him among a rising generation of attorneys who would guide Vermont through a period of national upheaval and reconstruction.

Establishing himself as a lawyer in Vermont, Tyler built a professional reputation that led to his involvement in public affairs and the Republican Party, which dominated Vermont politics in the post–Civil War era. As a practicing attorney, he handled the legal matters of individuals and businesses in his region, gaining experience in civil and possibly criminal matters typical of a 19th-century New England practice. His legal work and growing prominence in the community laid the groundwork for his later judicial responsibilities and his election to national office.

As a member of the Republican Party representing Vermont, Tyler was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served two consecutive terms from 1879 to 1883. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as the nation continued to adjust to the consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction and grappled with issues of economic development, veterans’ affairs, and federal administration. In the House of Representatives, he contributed to the legislative process, participating in debates, committee work, and votes that affected both Vermont and the broader United States. Throughout his tenure, he represented the interests of his constituents, reflecting the priorities of a largely rural, Republican state in the late nineteenth century.

After leaving Congress in 1883, Tyler resumed his legal and judicial career in Vermont. Drawing on his experience as both a lawyer and a legislator, he continued to serve the public in various legal capacities, including judicial roles that underscored his standing in the state’s legal community. His work as a judge complemented his earlier legislative service, allowing him to influence the interpretation and application of law in Vermont while maintaining his commitment to public service.

In his later years, Tyler remained a respected figure in Vermont’s legal and political circles, emblematic of the 19th-century tradition of citizen-lawmakers who combined professional practice with public duty. He lived to an advanced age, witnessing the transformation of the United States from a post–Civil War society into a modern industrial nation. James Manning Tyler died on October 13, 1926, closing a long life marked by service as an attorney, judge, and two-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont.