"President Zachary Taylor" our twelfth President was born in Orane County, Virginia, but his family moved to Kentucky when he was one year old. President Zachary Taylor had little formal education. He enlisted in the "Kentucky Militia" in 1806, joined the regular Army as a Lieutenant in 1808 and for the next forty years except for one period after the "War of 1812", President Zachary Taylor remained an Army officer.

President Zachary Taylor married "Margaret Mackall Smith" in 1811. The couple was blessed with six children. President Zachary Taylor owned land and slaves in Louisiana and Mississippi, but he was seldon at home to manage them.

President Zachary Taylor's Army service took him all over the country. He build brides, roads and forts, and even commanded a number of Army posts. During this time President Zachary Taylor acquired a reputation for courage and skill in battle and ability in manaing Indian affairs.

By 1844, President Zachary Taylor had become a Briadier General and was commanding officer of the "First Department of the Army" at "Fort Jesup", Louisiana. In 1845, President Zachary Taylor was sent to the new "Republic of Texas" to prepare for a possible invasion by Mexico, which did not recognize "Texas Independence".

By the time President Zachary Taylor had set up a base and collected an "Army at Corpus Christi", Texas, Mexico had given up the idea of re-taking Texas, and was protesting the location of the "Texas - Mexico Border". An American scouting party was ambushed, and President Zachary Taylor notified "Washington, D.C., but by the time Congress declared war, President Zachary Taylor had already fought two battles successfully.

News of these battles made President Zachary Taylor a national hero and gave the "Whig Party" the idea of running a popular General for President in the next election, two years away. In September, President Zachary Taylor captured "Monterey" and gave the Mexicans an eight week armistice.

"President James Knox Polk" feeling that President Zachary Taylor was becoming a dangerously popular candidate for the Presidency, removed him from command of the "Mexican War", sent his best troops to "General Winfield Scott" and told President Zachary Taylor to stay in Monterey.

President Zachary Taylor, who had become suspicious of President James Knox Polk's motives, disobeyes orders and marched south to fight the "Mexican Commander, Santa Anna." Although President Zachary Taylor was outnumbered four to one, his troops won the "Battle at Buena Vista".

At the "1848 Whig Party Convention", President Zachary Taylor was nominated over three other candidates and won the election because the Democrats split into two parties. President Zachary Taylor knew almost nothing of politics, he had never even cast a vote, but he had opinions on the questions of the day.

President Zachary Taylor worked to have California admitted to the Union as a free state and against a compromise that "Senator Henry Clay" proposed to satisfy the South. President Zachary Taylor approved a bill agreeing with "Great Britain" that if a canal was dug across Central America, the area would be neutral territory.

On July 4, 1850 President Zachary Taylor became ill after a celebration and died five days later after only a year and a half in office.

Written by:
Karen Palumbo
Photography "NOT" by:
Robert Palumbo
2/10/2010 (c)