Fun Presidential Facts – Zachary Taylor

Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President Zachary Taylor:

Personal Information on Zachary Taylor:

Twelfth (1849-1850)

Birthday: November 24, 1784 (Wednesday)
Birthplace: Barboursville, Virginia
Birthplace Website: President Zachary Taylor’s Birthplace
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: July 9, 1850 (Tuesday)
Place of Death: Washington DC
Place of Burial: Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
Cause of Death: Gastroenteritis
Age: 65 years old
Length of Retirement: Died in office
Burial Website: Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

Interesting Zachary Taylor facts:

Zachary Taylor has a couple of interesting members of his family tree. Taylor is a descendant of Elder William Brewster. Brewer was a Pilgrim who came over on the Mayflower. Brewer also signed the Mayflower Compact. Then there is Taylor’s daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor who married, despite Taylor’s disapproval, Jefferson Davis. This was long before Davis would become the Confederate President. Sarah would die shortly after the marriage and Davis would marry again, ten years later.
Zachary Taylor was 65 years old when he died. He was one of twelve Presidents (Teddy Roosevelt, Coolidge, Grant, FDR, Pierce, LBJ, Andrew Johnson, Washington, Benjamin Harrison, Wilson, William Henry Harrison were the other Presidents) who died in their sixties, the largest decade group of Presidential lifespans. The second largest group was those living into their seventies. Ten Presidents died in their seventies. Six Presidents are currently still living. One is in his fifties (Obama), three are in their seventies (Clinton, GW Bush, Trump) and two are in their nineties (Carter, GHW Bush).
Of the five Presidents who died in office, and didn’t serve at least one full term, Zachary Taylor sits at third in the shortest tenure as President. Taylor served 492 days as President before he died. William Henry Harrison (31 days) and James Garfield (199 days) had shorter tenures as Presidents because they died in office. Warren Harding (881 days) and John Kennedy (1036 days), who both also died during their first term, had longer tenures. Abraham Lincoln, who died into his second term, served 1503 days as President. William McKinley, who also served into his second term, died after serving 1654 days as President. Franklin Roosevelt, who served longer than anyone else who has ever been President, died while he was serving his fourth term. FDR served 4422 days as President.

My favorite Zachary Taylor Quotes:

Such an idea (running for President) never entered my head, nor is it likely to enter the head of any sane person.

I did not vote for General Taylor; and my family, especially the old lady is strongly opposed to his election. (it is rumored he said this)

I have no private purpose to accomplish, no party objectives to build up, no enemies to punish – nothing to serve but my country.

I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.

The power given by the Constitution to the Executive to interpose his veto is a high conservative power; but in my opinion it should never be exercised except in cases of clear violation of the Constitution, or manifest haste and want of due consideration by Congress.

It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostate foe.

Zachary Taylor blogs (click the title to go to that page):

Zachary Taylor page on Presidential Crossroads (click “Zachary Taylor” below):

Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor Blogs:

Election of 1848

His Death

Curse of Tecumseh

Not Answering the Presidential Nomination Mail

Ten Least Popular Presidents

Personal thoughts on Zachary Taylor:

Strengths:

Military service, Popular, No one knew what he actually stood for

Weaknesses:

Short term in office, Seemed to take a stand-off view of governing

Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): NA

Comments:

Zachary Taylor is one of those short term Presidents that you really can’t have an opinion on as to his Presidency. He died a few months after he took office. He was pretty much elected because no one really knew where he actually stood on most political issues of those days. He was a popular major general in the Mexican-American War. His troops seemed to have loved him. Still, it’s a little fun to try to guess what type of President he would have been. From his few months in office, he seemed to have a governing style of noninvolvement. He seem to believe Congress should be in charge of most of the governing. He didn’t seem to believe the President should use his veto powers unless he thought the Constitution was being violated. He owned slaves, but didn’t seem to want to expand slavery into new territories or states. That, of course, would lead to Free State having more delegates in Congress, which would mean they would eventually vote to end slavery all together. He definitely didn’t believe states had a right to secede. So, as a slave owner, how would he have handled the situation when the Free States started freeing his slaves? Taylor seemed to have a spirit of “why don’t we all just get along.” With the Civil War brewing, I’m not sure that was really possible. Would Taylor have been one of those Presidents who would have just let compromise after compromise pass in hopes that all of our problems would magically disappear or would he, with his military experience, been the type of leader who would have rallied the troops and resolved the issue once and for all? I guess we will never know.

Favorite Zachary Taylor book:

Zachary Taylor – Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest by K. Jack Bauer

Favorite Zachary Taylor story:

The story of his death and was it really about eating some bad cherries and milk or did someone try to poison him?

Most memorable Zachary Taylor memory:

Visiting his two gravesites at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky

Favorite Zachary Taylor possession (see picture at the top):

A Fax Pax fact card on Zachary Taylor