Five Things You Might Not Know About Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor died on July 9, 1850, after less than 500 days in office.  On the 159th anniversary of his death, CrackerHammer presents some things you might not know about our twelfth president.

Zachary Taylor, 12th President of the United States

1. In an epic feat of hypocrisy, Taylor was staunchly against the expansion of slavery in the United States, despite personally owning more than 100 slaves.  He was against the Missouri Compromise (which passed under Millard Fillmore after his death), and even threatened military action against any state that considered secession.

2. Despite his personal stance against secession, his son became a general in the Confederate Army, and his daughter married Confederate President Jefferson Davis.  Nothing like pissing on daddy’s grave.

3. He was the second president to die in office, and the last to actually die in the White House.

4. Prior to being nominated by the Whig Party for president in the summer of 1848, Taylor had no political experience and had never even bothered to vote.  He was elected solely on his popularity as a war hero.

5. “Old Rough and Ready” preferred comfort to fashion, and usually wore his clothes extra baggy, making him the Godfather of Hip-Hop Fashion.  Or the Godfather of Homeless Chic.  We can’t decide which.