- Taylor fought in the War of 1812 and various battles for and against Native American land disputes. Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) served in the army for some four decades, commanding troops in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War (1832) and the second of the Seminole Wars (1835-1842). This meant that while his parents were well-educated by the standards of the time, Taylor’s own education was sporadic, as teachers came and went. Upon becoming President, he spent the first few months at his military post. After Zachary Taylor’s death, things began to change very quickly. He therefore asked the government to bring in Cuban bloodhounds to hunt the last of them down, but they refused his request and condemned him for it.Another of our little-known Zachary Taylor facts is that he never fully mastered the art of writing. One of his direct forebears was Elder William Brewster, one of the pilgrims who arrived aboard the Mayflower. At the peak of his private career, he owned over 200 slaves.Taylor’s genealogy ensured that he was born well-off. A hero of the Mexican War, he won the election of 1848 mainly because of his popularity. From their line, came Taylor’s second cousin, James Madison, who would become the country’s 4th President, serving from 1809 to 1817. A career military officer, Zachary Taylor never voted in a presidential election before 1848, when he was elected. They had six children.

He snacked on cherries that are believed to have bacteria on them. He had consumed cherries and milk before he fell ill. Taylor died several days later, and his doctors therefore blamed his death on eating cherries with milk.

His explanation was that he hadn’t wanted to vote against a potential commander in chief. Taylor’s doctors blamed cholera morbus, a term doctors used in those days to describe gastroenteritis — inflammation of the intestines caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite. His military victories had earned him a broad support base, not just from his own Whig Party, but from the others as well. Historians believe he was pressured into the elections, since Taylor’s response was that he would run, but not as a partisan loyalist. Madison is considered to be the “Father of the US Constitution,” since he was the one who drafted it. 1811: A growing military career (1811-1837) Over the years, Mr. Taylor served in many skirmishes across the country. Using his family’s wealth, he bought more land, and an increasing number of slaves to manage it. Zachary Taylor Interesting Facts Zachary Taylor was nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready" because of his long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. Brewer also signed the Mayflower Compact. He rose quickly through the ranks, and, by 1811, he was given control over Fort Knox after its previous commander abandoned it. Taylor opposed the courtship because he wanted to spare his daughter from the difficulties of a military life.One of our little-known Zachary Taylor facts is that he was related to another American president. Summary of Zachary Taylor for Kids: "Old Rough and Ready" Summary: The military hero Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready", was the 12th American President and served in office from 1849-1850.The Presidency of Zachary Taylor spanned the period in United States history that encompasses the events of the Westward Expansion. Taylor’s father, Richard, served as a lieutenant colonel during the American Revolution which brought that independence about.Most people ride horses by placing their legs on either side of the animal’s body, squeezing their legs together to stay on.

- Taylor's nickname was "Old Rough-and-Ready." When he took office, the extension of slavery in the new southwestern territories was a pressing issue. As such, Taylor became a household name and people started calling him “Old Rough and Ready.” To make sure that there would be no third war, however, Taylor wanted to exterminate all the Seminoles. His death also created the myth that milk and cherries are a poisonous combination.Taylor owned slaves, but did not support policies which would have extended the scope of slavery in those states where it was legal, nor did he believe in legalizing slavery in the new western territories since he felt they were not ideal for cotton and sugar production. - Taylor's nickname was "Old Rough-and-Ready." He got this nickname from wearing old farm clothes into battle and living the same way as the soldiers.- On July 4, 1850, Taylor celebrated Independence Day at the Washington Monument. Since the region was already over-farmed, however, his father decided to move the family to Louisville, Kentucky, in search of better opportunities. They eventually owned 10,000 acres of land and had 26 slaves to manage it.Zachary Taylor was a direct descendant of the very first English pilgrims who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Taylor died on the Fourth of July while at the Washington Monument during a fund raising event. He became a full-fledged war hero through his service in the Mexican War, which broke out in 1846 after the U.S. annexation of Texas. Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was the 12th President of the United States.