Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor tied the knot with Margaret Mackall Smith, who went on to be the first lady of the United States after the former was crowned the President. Margaret, also fondly known as ‘Peggy’, was the beloved child of a war veteran named Walter Smith. The wedding took place way back in 1810.

The couple eventually became parents to six children, namely Sarah Knox Taylor, Octavia, Margaret, Mary Elizabeth and Richard Scott. Of these, Margaret and Octavia died at a young age.

His daughter Sarah was seeing a soldier named Jefferson Davis, when she was 17. The news of his girl’s courtship didn’t go down too well with Taylor, since the latter thought it was difficult to be the wife of a soldier, since the man would be deployed to war zones.

Zachary Taylor was born in a well-to-do prominent family of planters on 24 November 1784 in Orange County Virginia. His father's name was Richard Taylor and his mother's name was Sarah Strother Taylor. He had seven siblings; four brothers and three sisters.

His father actively participated in the American Revolution movement by serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S Army. His father had served under George Washington during the American Revolution and he was a direct descendant of the Elder William Brewster, the Pilgrim colonist leader and spiritual elder of the Plymouth Colony.

Unlike most kids, Zachary Taylor didn’t attend school and was instead coached by a teacher. The boy was apparently quick at grasping lessons but had a terrible handwriting.

Zachary Taylor was passionate about the military services since a young age and in May 1808, he joined the army. For the next couple of years, he spent a lot of time at New Orleans and Terre aux Boeffs.

Zachary Taylor earned the designation of a Captain in 1810 and there were fewer work responsibilities at that time. This gave him enough time to invest his earnings on properties, such as the plush ‘Cypress Grove Plantation’, as well as a plantation in Louisville for a whopping $95000, at that time.

He proved his mettle in the infamous ‘War of 1812’ during which the American army locked horns with the British forces. Taylor and his troops were given the responsibility of defending ‘Fort Harrison’ during this time. He succeeded in keeping the British forces at bay, which earned him a lot of accolades from all quarters.

He later went on to successfully defend ‘Fort Johnson’, situated near the Mississippi river too as well as ‘Fort Howard’. The gruesome battle with the British ended in 1815, but Taylor resigned from the military the same year. However, a year later, he made a great comeback, this time as a Major.

In 1819, Zachary Taylor promoted as lieutenant colonel and also had the opportunity of dining with the President James Monroe.

During the period 1821 to 1824, he was given several responsibilities, such as going to Natchitoches, Louisiana, with his troops for a military operation.

In the infamous ‘Seminole War’, he had used bloodhounds to keep the Indians at bay. This move of Taylor’s received a lot of criticism.