Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor, the twelfth U.S. president and a career soldier known as "Old Rough and Ready," was born in Orange County, Virginia.
- Profession
- President, General
- From
- Barboursville, Virginia
- Born
- November 24, 1784
- Years active
- 1808–1850
Early life
Born in 1784 in Orange County, Taylor grew up on the Kentucky frontier and joined the U.S. Army as a young officer.
Career
He became a national hero for victories in the Mexican–American War, which carried him to the presidency in 1849 despite no prior political experience.
Major achievements
A slaveholder who nonetheless opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, he took a firm Unionist stance during the sectional crisis.
Legacy
Taylor died just sixteen months into his term, remembered as one of the nation's most successful battlefield commanders.
References
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