Zachary Taylor: Old Rough and Ready - the 12th US President

Q: Who was Zachary Taylor?

Zachary Taylor was an American general who won fame during the Mexican-American War and became the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 to 50.

Q: What killed Zachary Taylor?

The most common theory is that President Zachary Taylor died of gastroenteritis, although recent theories suggest that the White House water was contaminated. Some have even suggested that he was assassinated with poison, although there is no evidence to support this.

Q: What battles did Zachary Taylor fight?

Zachary Taylor is most famous for leading the US troops at the battles of Monterrey (September 1846) and Buena Vista (February 1847) during the Mexican-American War.

Harrison W. Mark

Zachary Taylor

Old Rough and Ready - the 12th US President

Definition

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was an American military officer who served as the twelfth president of the United States. Born to a family of prominent Virginian planters, Taylor joined the US Army in 1808 and eventually rose to the rank of major general. Nicknamed 'Old Rough and Ready' by his men, he played a significant role in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), leading US forces to victory in such actions as the Battle of Monterrey (21-24 Sept 1846) and Battle of Buena Vista (22-23 Feb 1847). He used his newfound status as a war hero to win election to the presidency in 1848. However, he abruptly died a little over a year into his term, on 9 July 1850.

More about: Zachary Taylor

Timeline

4 Mar 1849 - 9 Jul 1850
Presidency of Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States.

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