The Whig ticket went on to win the 1840 election, defeating incumbent Democratic President Martin Van Buren.

First, the convention came on the heels of a string of Whig electoral losses, and party members were anxious to reverse the trend.

Had the convention been held in the spring of 1840, when the continuing economic downturn caused by the Panic of 1837 led to a string of Whig victories, Clay would have had much greater support.

[2] The state-by-state roll call was printed in the newspaper the Farmer's Cabinet on December 13, 1839: Presidential Balloting Because Harrison (born in Virginia) was considered a Northerner (as a resident of Ohio), the Whigs needed to balance the ticket with a Southerner.

[3] Tyler was well known to the delegates, having previously been the running mate of Hugh Lawson White and Willie Person Mangum during the four-way Whig campaign of 1836.