Dates: Born November 24, 1784, Orange County, Virginia; Died July 9, 1850, Washington, D.C.
Nickname: “Old Rough and Ready”
Party: Whig
Term: 1849-1850
Vice President: Millard Fillmore
Military Career
War of 1812: Gained recognition for his defense of Fort Harrison against Native American attacks.
Second Seminole War (1835-1842): Achieved the rank of Brigadier General for his service.
Mexican-American War (1846-1848): Rose to national prominence as a war hero due to victories at:
Battle of Palo Alto: May 8, 1846
Battle of Resaca de la Palma: May 9, 1846
Battle of Monterrey: September 21-24, 1846
Battle of Buena Vista: February 22-23, 1847 - A major victory against a larger Mexican force. This battle solidified his image as a tough and capable leader.
Presidency (1849-1850)
Election of 1848: Campaigned as a national hero, appealing to both Northern and Southern voters despite his lack of political experience. His stance on slavery was deliberately ambiguous.
Key Issues:
Slavery and Sectionalism: The issue of slavery in newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War dominated his presidency. He advocated for Popular Sovereignty, allowing residents of each territory to decide the issue for themselves.
California and New Mexico: Taylor supported the immediate admission of California and New Mexico as states, even if they entered as free states. This angered many Southerners who saw it as a threat to the balance of power in Congress.
Little Legislation: His presidency was short and marked by sectional conflict, so he didn’t sign much significant legislation.
Firm Stance on Secession: Taylor threatened to use military force to prevent secession and preserve the Union. He made it clear that he considered the Union paramount.
Political Affiliations
Whig Party: Though he had little prior political experience, Taylor ran and won as a Whig. His appeal was largely based on his military reputation rather than strict adherence to Whig principles.
Impact
Heightened Sectional Tensions: Although he intended to calm them, Taylor’s stance on California and New Mexico and his opposition to the Compromise of 1850 initially intensified the debate over slavery, pushing the nation closer to Civil War.
Uncertain Legacy: His sudden death in 1850 left his policies unfinished and his long-term impact unclear. Millard Fillmore, his successor, adopted the Compromise of 1850, which temporarily eased tensions but ultimately failed to resolve the underlying conflict.
Death
Taylor died on July 9, 1850, after a brief illness. Theories about his death ranged from cholera to poisoning, but historians generally attribute it to a gastrointestinal illness. His death significantly altered the political landscape, as his successor, Millard Fillmore, took a different approach to the sectional crisis.