Discussion Topic
Overview of President Zachary Taylor's life and interesting facts
Summary:
President Zachary Taylor, born in 1784, was a military leader who became the 12th President of the United States. Known as "Old Rough and Ready," he gained fame in the Mexican-American War. Taylor's presidency was cut short by his death in 1850. Interesting facts include his non-partisan stance and his ownership of a Louisiana plantation, despite his opposition to the expansion of slavery.
What are some interesting facts about President Zachary Taylor?
Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the United States and served from 1849-1850. He was a career military officer and decorated war hero, serving in the military for forty years. Over this time, he led troops in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican War. Here are some interesting facts about our 12th president.
- He was a descendant of William Brewster, who led the Pilgrims when they landed at Plymouth Rock.
- President James Madison, the father of the Constitution, was his second cousin.
- Zachary Taylor never attended college or practiced law, unlike many other presidents.
- He earned the nickname “Old Rough and Ready” for his disheveled clothing and readiness to fight alongside his men.
- When riding into battle he rode his horse side saddle. Due to his short legs, he found it easier to mount quickly.
- In the election of 1848,...
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- the Whig party nominated Zachary Taylor without his knowledge or presence at the convention.
- Taylor never voted in a presidential election before he ran for president. As a career military officer, he didn’t want to vote against someone who could become commander in chief.
- He remained ambiguous about his views on slavery during the election, even though he owned slaves. This helped him gain support from both the South and the North.
- He served as president for only one year because he died in office in one of the strangest deaths of any US President. On a hot day, he ate cherries and milk at a Fourth of July celebration. He died a few days later of cholera due to the contaminated snacks. Although some people believe he was poisoned, his body later exhumed, and it was determined his death was of natural causes.
Can you provide a brief biography of President Zachary Taylor?
Zachary Taylor (1784–1850) was the first president elected without any prior political experience. He served as president for only 16 months before dying in office.
Raised in Kentucky on the frontier, he learned how to ride horses, shoot, and hunt. His father told stories of his service in the Revolutionary War. Most of his brothers also became soldiers.
Taylor joined the army in 1808 and became a professional soldier. He fought in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and the conflict with the Seminoles in Florida. He became a national figure after his service in the Mexican War (1846–1948). At Buena Vista, he defeated a Mexican force that was four times larger.
The Whigs chose him to run for the presidency, and he won the election of 1848. At the time, the key issue facing the country was the growing rift between the North and South over slavery. Taylor owned slaves, but he opposed extending slavery into territories taken from Mexico. The Compromise of 1850 was enacted to deal with the sectional conflict, but Taylor died in office before it was implemented.