Zachary Taylor's Life

Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784 in Orange County, Virginia. His father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary War. His only formal education was at a small schoolhouse. His parents supplemented his education by teaching him at home. He worked on his family's plantation until he left home in 1801 to join the 7th Infantry Regiment. Zachary Taylor married Margaret Mackall Smith in 1810; they had six children, two daughters died as infants. Taylor fought in the War of 1812 rising in rank to major by 1816 in the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In 1832 Taylor fought in the Black Hawk War to drive the Sac Indians out of Illinois. In 1837 he recieved an honorary commission as brigadier general after he defeated the Seminole Indians in Florida during the Second Seminole War. He was not able to defeat the Indians in 1840; he was relieved of his command and assigned to fight the Indians in the Southwest. He fought on the Texas-Louisiana border; his army defeated the Mexicans at Palo Alto. His final victory was in the battle of Buena Vista where his troops were outnumbered 4-1. He was promoted to major general. The Whig party nominated Taylor for President in 1848 and won. Taylor was a soldier most of his life; he never held political office until he was elected President of the United States. As President he tried to use the Army to prevent states from withdrawing from the United States. He was President for only one year. On Independence Day he participated in the ceremonies laying the cornerstone of the Washington monument. He had a stomach ailment later that day and he died there on July 9, 1850. Note: Zachary Taylor was President from 1849 through 1850 and the Vice President was Millard Fillmore.