Humanities › History & Culture Zachary Taylor Fast Facts The 12th President of the United States Print Zachary Taylor, Twelfth President of the United States, Portrait by Mathew Brady. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-13012 DLC History & Culture American History U.S. Presidents Basics Important Historical Figures Key Events Native American History American Revolution America Moves Westward The Gilded Age Crimes & Disasters The Most Important Inventions of the Industrial Revolution African American History African History Ancient History and Culture Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By Martin Kelly Martin Kelly History Expert M.A., History, University of Florida B.A., History, University of Florida Martin Kelly, M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer. He is the author of "The Everything American Presidents Book" and "Colonial Life: Government." Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 08, 2017 Zachary Taylor (1784–1850) served as America's 12th president. However, he died after only a little more than a year in office. Learn several important facts about this former U.S president. Birth November 24, 1784 Death July 9, 1850 Term of Office March 4, 1849–July 9, 1850 Number of Terms Elected One term; Zachary Taylor died after serving a little more than a year in office. Doctors believe his death was caused by cholera morbus contracted from eating a bowl of cherries and drinking a pitcher of iced milk on a hot day. Interestingly, his body was exhumed on June 17, 1991. There was a belief by historians that he might have been poisoned due to his stance against allowing enslavement to extend to the western states. However, the researchers were able to show that he had not, in fact, been poisoned. He was later reburied in his Louisville, Kentucky mausoleum. First Lady Margaret "Peggy" Mackall Smith Nickname "Old Rough and Ready" Zachary Taylor Quote "It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe." Major Events While in Office Zachary Taylor was renowned in the United States before becoming president as a war hero. He had fought in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War. In 1848, he was nominated by the Whig Party as its presidential candidate even though he was not present at the convention and had not put his name forward to run. Ironically, he was informed by letter of the nomination. However, he would not pay the postage due and did not actually find out he was the nominee until weeks later. During his short time as president, the key event that occurred was the passage of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty between the United States and Great Britain. The treaty dealt with the status of colonization and canals in the countries of Central America. Both countries agreed that from that date on, all canals would indeed be neutral. In addition, both countries stated that they would not colonize any part of Central America. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Kelly, Martin. "Zachary Taylor Fast Facts." ThoughtCo, Jan. 5, 2021, thoughtco.com/zachary-taylor-fast-facts-105524. Kelly, Martin. (2021, January 5). Zachary Taylor Fast Facts. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/zachary-taylor-fast-facts-105524 Kelly, Martin. "Zachary Taylor Fast Facts." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/zachary-taylor-fast-facts-105524 (accessed April 16, 2024). copy citation