Zachary Taylor (1784-1850)

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), served his country for 40 years as a soldier and for 16 months as President. His courage and ability during the Mexican War made him a national hero. Taylor showed the same courage while he was President, but he died before he could prove his full abilities as a statesman. He was succeeded by Vice-President Millard Fillmore.

President Taylor was one of the largest slaveowners of the South. But he did not oppose admitting California and New Mexico to the Union as free states. The South demanded that other slavery problems be settled before those territories became states, and threatened to secede. The President replied that he was ready to take his place at the head of the army to put down any such action. Taylor died at the height of this argument. Fillmore's policies delayed the Civil War for 10 years.

Taylor made his greatest contribution to his country as a soldier. This quiet, friendly man was no military genius. But he was a good leader. He never lost a battle. His troops nicknamed him "Old Rough and Ready."