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Zachary Taylor was a career military officer who served as president and became a hero for his victories in the Mexican-American War.
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. He was a popular war hero, known for his victories in the Mexican-American War and strongly promoted expansionism. His short-lived presidency was marked by southwest expansion and increased sectional tensions.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1784</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Zachary Taylor is Born</div><div class='timeline-text'>On November 24, 1784, Zachary Taylor was born in Barboursville, Virginia.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1808</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Joins the U.S. Army</div><div class='timeline-text'>Taylor began his military career as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1846-1848</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Mexican-American War Hero</div><div class='timeline-text'>Taylor became a national hero due to his victories in the Mexican-American War.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1848</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><diV class='timeline-right'><diV class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Wins Presidential Election</diV><diV class='timeline-text'>Taylor won the presidential election as a nominee of the Whig Party.</diV></diV></diV><diV class='timeline-item'><diV class='timeline-left'><diV class='timeline-date'>1849</diV></diV><diV class='timeline-center'></diV><diV class='timeline-right'><diV class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inaugurated as President</diV><diV class='timeline-text'>On March 4, 1849, Taylor was inaugurated as the 12th President of the United States.</diV></diV></diV><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1850</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Opposes Compromise of 1850</div><div class='timeline-text'>Taylor opposed the proposed Compromise of 1850, which aimed to admit California as a free state and introduce a new fugitive slave law.</div></div></div><diV class='timeline-item'><diV class='timeline-left'><diV class='timeline-date'>1850</diV></diV><diV class='timeline-center'></diV><diV class='timeline-right'><diV class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Passes Away in Office</diV><diV class='timeline-text'>On July 9, 1850, President Zachary Taylor suddenly fell ill and died, making his term the third shortest in U.S. history.</diV></diV></diV>
Zachary Taylor was the twelfth President of the United States and he is best remembered as a military hero who defended the American people from foreign threats. He was born November 24, 1784 and died at the age of 65 on July 9, 1850.
