Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor, known as “Old Rough and Ready,” was the 12th President of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Born in Virginia in 1784, Taylor was a career military officer before his presidency. He became a national hero during the Mexican-American War, which led to his election as president on the Whig Party ticket.His presidency was short-lived, lasting only about 16 months, and was largely dominated by the contentious issue of slavery’s expansion into the new territories. Despite being a Southerner and a slave owner himself, Taylor did not support the extension of slavery and sought to maintain the Union. His unexpected death in July 1850 cut his term short, and he is often remembered for his military career rather than his time in office.