Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor Order: 12th President Term of Office: March 5, 1849 - July 9, 1850 Followed: James Knox Polk Succeeded by: Millard Fillmore Date of Birth November 24, 1784 Place of Birth: Barboursville, Virginia Date of Death: July 9, 1850 Place of Death: Washington, D.C Wife: Margaret Mackall Smith First Ladies: Margaret Mackall Smith Mary Elizabeth Bliss (daughter) Occupation: soldier Political Party: Whig Vice President: Millard Fillmore

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 - July 9, 1850), also known as "Old Rough and Ready", was the 12th (1849-1850) President of the United States, and the second President to die in office.

Taylor was a career soldier. Starting with a commission as a first lieutenant, in 1808, he fought in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and the Second Seminole War. President Polk sent an army under his command to the Rio Grande in 1846. When the Mexicans attacked Taylor's troops, Polk declared war. Taylor defeated the Mexicans, despite being outnumbered 4-1. He became a national hero and received the Whig nomination for President in 1848, although he had never even bothered to vote before.

Taylor earned a footnote in Presidential history before he even took office. His term of service was scheduled to begin at noon on March 4, 1849, but being a Sunday, Taylor refused to be sworn in until the following day. Vice President Millard Fillmore also was not sworn on that day. As a result, the nation technically had no President or Vice President for one day. Some people later claimed that David Rice Atchison, the previous President Pro Tempore of the Senate, was technically Acting President, but this claim is rejected by virtually every constitutional scholar.

After participating in ceremonies at the Washington Monument on a blistering July 4, 1850, Taylor fell ill; he died of acute indigestion five days later, after just 16 months in office. Taylor was succeeded by his vice president, Millard Fillmore.

Related articles

• U.S. presidential election, 1848

External links

• Inaugural Address

Preceded by: James Knox Polk

Presidents of the United States

Succeeded by: Millard Fillmore