Zachary Taylor

Age:  65 years
old  Wife:  Margaret – 4 Children

Political Party:
Whig

Term(s) as President:
1849-1850

Home State:  Born
in Virginia – from Louisiana

Notes:  The
nation had grown – times had changed

Slavery threatens the union.

Southern Democrats control courts and congress.

Both parties tried to recruit Taylor.

War hero – slave owner

“Old Rough and Ready” – rough looking
slovenly appearance

never registered to vote – didn’t even vote for
himself

Related to James Madison, Robert E. Lee and his daughter had
been married to Jefferson Davis.

deferred decisions to other people – felt congress
should decide issue of slavery.

Compromise of 1850 – would have allowed California to enter as a free state but would have given some benefits
to slave states.

Taylor
veto’s bill

Southern secessionist protest and threaten to leave the
union.  Taylor threatens to hang secessionist –
including his former son-n-law, Jefferson Davis.

July 4, 1850 – celebration of 4th of July
and the dedication of the Washington Monument, Taylor
eats a bowl of cherries and drinks a glass of milk.  Gets sick and dies.

- some thought he was poisoned

1991 body exhumed – no poison – no signs of foul
play.