Taylor, Zachary

Taylor, Zachary (1784–1850) U.S. army officer and 12th President of the United States (1849–1850). Born in Orange County, Virginia, on November 24, 1784, Taylor moved with his family to a farm near Louisville, Kentucky, the following year. He obtained a commission as first lieutenant in the U.S. 7th Infantry in 1808 and served on the Old Northwest frontier through the War of 1812. He was promoted to captain in 1810 and was brevetted major in 1812. He returned to the family farm in 1814 but was recalled to active duty by President James Madison in 1816 and served as lieutenant colonel and then colonel of the U.S. 1st Infantry for over ten years. He led the 1st Infantry in the Black Hawk War and commanded U.S. troops fighting the Seminoles, whom he defeated at Lake Ocheechobee (December 25, 1837), for which action he was brevetted brigadier general and gained the nickname “Old Rough and Ready.” He subsequently commanded U.S. troops in the Southern Division of the Western Department. Following the annexation of Texas in December 1845, Taylor fortified a position across the Rio Grande River from the Mexican town of Matamoros in March 1846. Taylor's position was attacked by the Mexican general Mariano Arista, and Taylor's forces repulsed the Mexicans in the Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846) and then pursued Arista's retreating forces defeating them again at Resaca de la Palma (May 9, 1846). Taylor's victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma led to his promotion to major general. His forces were reinforced and in September 1846 he advanced on Monterrey which he attacked on September 21. The Mexicans requested a truce and withdrew after a three-day defense of the city. Taylor was then ordered to release most of his troops for Gen. Winfield Scott's expedition against City of Mexico. Taylor's diminished force was attacked by strong Mexican forces under Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna at Buena Vista on February 21–23, 1847. Again, the U.S. forces gained victory through effective artillery work. Taylor's fame as a winning general in the Mexican War led to his nomination as the Whig Party candidate for President in the election of 1848. He defeated Martin Van Buren and assumed office as the 12th President of the United States in 1849. The question of extending slavery to the new territories won from Mexico dominated his administration. Taylor died in office on July 9, 1850, after serving only sixteen months and was succeeded by his vice president, Millard Fillmore.