Letitia Christian Tyler ( November 12 , 1790 - September 10 , 1842 ) was the first wife of John Tyler , the tenth President of the United States . She was the First Lady of the United States from 1841 until her death in 1842 . Letitia Christian Tyler ( November 12 , 1790 -- September 10 , 1842 ) , first wife of John Tyler , was First Lady of the United States from 1841 until her death .