Zachary Taylor
| Zachary Taylor | |
|---|---|
| File:Zachary Taylor Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 12th President of the United States |
| In office | March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 |
| Vice President | Millard Fillmore |
| Preceded by | James K. Polk |
| Succeeded by | Millard Fillmore |
| Born | November 24, 1784 Near Barboursville, Virginia, United States |
| Political Party | Whig |
| Spouse | Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor (m. 1810–1850) |
| Children | 6 (including Sarah Knox Taylor and Richard Taylor) |
| Profession | Soldier (career officer), politician |
| Alma mater | No formal college (frontier schooling) |
| Signature | 
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Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. A career Army officer and Mexican–American War hero, Taylor was elected as a Whig despite limited political experience. In office, he opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories—putting him at odds with Southern secessionists—even though he was a Southern slaveholder himself.
Early Life and Military Career
Born near Barboursville, Virginia, Taylor moved with his family to the Kentucky frontier, where he grew up on plantations near Louisville. He received a frontier education and joined the U.S. Army in 1808, beginning a 40-year military career. He saw service in the War of 1812, fought Seminole forces in Florida, and commanded on the western frontier.
Taylor gained national fame during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), winning decisive victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, capturing Monterrey, and defeating a larger Mexican force at Buena Vista. His tough, unpretentious style earned him the nickname “Old Rough and Ready.”
Election of 1848
Capitalizing on his celebrity and above-party appeal, the Whigs nominated Taylor for president in 1848. Running as a moderate who avoided detailed policy pledges, he defeated Democrat Lewis Cass and former President Martin Van Buren (Free Soil).
Presidency (1849–1850)
Taylor took office as the nation fractured over whether slavery could expand into lands taken from Mexico. Though personally a Southern slaveholder, he opposed the extension of slavery into the new territories and threatened to veto any compromise that bundled concessions for both sections. He urged immediate statehood for California and New Mexico to bypass territorial fights—moves that alarmed pro-slavery leaders.
Taylor also asserted federal authority during a raging dispute in Texas over the New Mexico boundary, signaling he would use the Army if necessary to maintain order.
Death
Taylor fell ill after attending July 4th events in 1850 and died on July 9, 1850, a little over 16 months into his term. Vice President Millard Fillmore succeeded him and soon signed the Compromise of 1850, which Taylor had resisted.
Legacy
Taylor is remembered as a plain-spoken soldier-president who put Union above sectional demands. Though his term was brief, historians note his firm stance against the spread of slavery and his willingness to confront secessionist threats. His military reputation remains distinguished, and his presidency is often viewed as a pivotal “what-if” moment before the 1850 Compromise.