Zachary Taylor

12th President of the United States

Years in Office: 1849-1850

Party: Whig

Served only 16 months, died in office

Did you know?

President Zachary had a beloved pet horse named "Old Whitey," which he rode during the Mexican-American War and who became somewhat of a celebrity in his own right.

Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States, served from March 1849 until his untimely death in July 1850. Born on November 24, 1784, in Orange County, Virginia, Taylor was a career military officer known for his leadership during the Mexican-American War. His victories at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Buena Vista earned him the nickname "Old Rough and Ready."

Taylor, a Whig candidate, assumed the presidency with no prior political experience. His brief tenure was marked by debates over the contentious issue of slavery in newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War. Despite being a slaveholder himself, Taylor advocated for the admission of California as a free state, causing tension with Southern states. His sudden death on July 9, 1850, from a gastrointestinal illness, possibly cholera, elevated Vice President Millard Fillmore to the presidency, leading to the eventual compromise on the slavery issue. Zachary Taylor's legacy is often overshadowed by the political turbulence of his time, but his military achievements and the complex issues surrounding his presidency remain part of American history.