Zachary Taylor

President of the United States from 1849 to 1850

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Lived 1784–1850, aged 66United States

United States PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
131 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1784–1850
Aged 66
Known for
The Last Days of Disco
1998

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

A career general who'd never held office became president on the strength of battlefield wins in Mexico, then died of a stomach illness sixteen months in — leaving the question of slavery exactly where he found it.

Biography

About

Born into a plantation family that moved from Virginia to Kentucky, Taylor was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1808 and made his name as a captain in the War of 1812. He climbed ranks building forts along the Mississippi and leading troops in the Black Hawk War, then earned the nickname "Old Rough and Ready" during the Second Seminole War. When war with Mexico erupted in 1846, he won at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, drove into Mexico for victory at Monterrey, and — defying orders — repelled Santa Anna's larger force at Buena Vista. The Whig Party convinced the reluctant general to run in…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor

said5 Mar 1849

In conclusion I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common country.

— Inaugural Address (March 5, 1849).

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

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