Welcome to Part Twelve! It’s time for Old Rough and Ready, the man felled by strawberries. Let’s dive into the administration of Zachary Taylor:
Enters office- 4th March 1849
Zachary Taylor had allegedly never voted until his own election, but it worked, as Taylor entered the White House on this day. As the 4th fell on a Sunday, it was decided that the inauguration would happen the next day. This would have surely pleased the extremely devout Margaret ‘Peggy’ Taylor, who had allegedly prayed for her husband to lose the election. This had led some people to contend that President pro tempore of the Senate David Atchinson was thus President for twenty-four hours, as Polk had left office and Taylor was yet to be sworn in. Historians consider this a moot point, especially as Atchinson’s Senate term had ended on this day.
Official inauguration- 5th March 1849
Taylor’s official inauguration was on this date. He was sworn in on the East Portico of the Capitol Building by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. It was about 5C/42F, and heavy snow fell later during the Inaugural Ball. Taylor’s inaugural address was very short, focusing on non-partisan issues and his Constitutional role.
Cabinet members sworn in- 8th March 1849
Taylor’s Cabinet members were sworn in on this day. Whilst Taylor had no political experience, he was meticulous about his selection. Each of the men served the entirety of Taylor’s sixteen month administration.
Proclamation of day of fasting and prayer for cholera victims- 3rd July 1849
Cholera was sweeping through the United States at this time, killing thousands across the nation. On this day, Taylor proclaimed a day of ‘fasting, humiliation and prayer’ for businesses and private citizens to ‘ask a continuance of the Divine mercy.’ Nearly a month earlier, Taylor’s successor James K. Polk had died of the disease. It’s also believed that Taylor’s death a year later would be caused by cholera.
Funeral of Dolley Madison- Taylor allegedly coins term ‘First Lady’- 19th July 1849
Beloved First Lady and society hostess Dolley Madison died in Washington D.C, and her funeral was held on this day. It was the largest funeral procession seen in the city until that point, befitting her popularity and status. Both houses of Congress were adjourned and all of society’s elite attended. It is said that at the funeral, Zachary Taylor referred to Dolley Madison as ‘the First Lady,’ originating the term. There is no written evidence of this but is popularly regarded as true. It would not be used to refer to a sitting First Lady until Harriet Lane in 1860.
Peter Hansborough Bell is elected as Governor of Texas- 6th August 1849
Texas was now a state, and a lot was riding on the 1849 gubernatorial election. Peter Hansborough Bell, a man who advocated for a strong defence and getting rid of the Native American population, won.
Speaking Tour begins- 9th August 1849
Taylor undertook a speaking tour of some of the northeastern United States, hitting Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
Proclamation regarding Cuba- 11th August 1849
There had been talk of purchasing the island of Cuba, but nothing came of it upon Taylor’s election. Still, there had been a movement to invade at the very least. When Taylor caught wind of this, he issued Proclamation 51 in which he told citizens ‘No such persons must expect the interference of this Government in any form on their behalf, no matter to what extremities they may be reduced in consequence of their conduct.’ This came down to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated they would respect all territories and colonies of other nations.
Speaking Tour ends- 24th August 1849
Taylor finished his speaking tour, during which he’d suffered stomach troubles.
First and Only State of the Union address- 4th December 1849
Taylor delivered his first and only State of the Union Address on this date. He emphasised peace with foreign nations in this address with lines such as ‘I have scrupulously avoided any interference in the wars and contentions which have recently distracted Europe.’ This included wishing for peace and diplomatic negotiations with Mexico, especially after the war. Other issues discussed included California gold, Native Americans and the Navy.
Peter Hansborough Bell becomes Governor of Texas- 21st December 1849
Bell became Governor of Texas. A strong supporter of states’ rights, he would later attempt to defend territory that New Mexico claimed, but failed.
- Special message discussing statehood of California and New Mexico- 23rd January 1850
Zachary Taylor sent a special message on this day regarding the potential statehood of California and New Mexico. Whilst he supported such measures, he only did so under the proviso that it was accepted by the people of those territories. California would become a state two months after he died, but it took until 1912 for Mexico to achieve the same goal.
Henry Clay introduces eight resolutions- 29th January 1850
Henry Clay, like many Southerners, had opposed the statehood of California and New Mexico, at least without concessions. In response to the special message, Clay introduced eight resolutions that would lead to the Compromise of 1850. Taylor would not live to see it.
Lays the Cornerstone of the Washington Monument in Richmond- 21st February 1850
At the largest procession seen in Richmond at this point, Taylor laid the cornerstone of the Washington Monument. The Washington Monument would open thirty-eight years later.
John C. Calhoun dies- 31st March 1850
John C. Calhoun, former Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Congressman and current Senator, died on this day. Calhoun had been one of the most influential politicians of the day, espousing pro-Southern and slavery attitudes. His last words were even allegedly ‘The South, the poor South!’ Calhoun was the first of the Great Triumvirate to die, with the other two- Henry Clay and Daniel Webster- both dying in 1852.
Submits the Clayton-Bulwer treaty to the Senate- 22nd April 1850
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was submitted to the Senate on this day. A treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom, it sought to prevent the control of Central America by either party. If a canal was created, both would support it. It also stopped either party from colonising any Central American republics. Neither side, however, was pleased by the result.
Galphin Affair payout- 2nd May 1850
In the 18th century, the estate of a deceased man named George Galphin had been taken over by the government. Ever since, Galphin’s heirs and descendants had fought for the payment. It was eventually agreed, though their lawyer George W. Crawford took half. Many were outraged by Crawford, but he escaped punishment and lived off his substantial winnings. Taylor was also threatened with censure and impeachment, but his death stopped this.
Ratifies the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty- 22nd May 1850
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was ratified on this day.
Second Special Message concerning Cuba- 3rd June 1850
Taylor sent a second special message on this date regarding Cuba. He promised that there would be no government action regarding an invasion or annexation, but warned that there were still foreign officials living in the United States that attempted to do so.
Nashville Convention ends- 11th June 1850
The Civil War was another decade away, so slavery was still a concern for supporters and abolitionists. Nine slave states came together at a church in Nashville (the same one that held the funeral of Polk) to discuss possible secession should slavery be banned in any new territories. Compromises were eventually made, something that would lead to the Compromise of 1850 and starve off the issue for another ten years.
Special Message regarding Santa Fe- 17th June 1850
Texas and New Mexico were arguing over a territory that included Santa Fe, to the point that Governor Bell was willing to use the militia to defend against federal troops. Taylor sent out a special message that said that whilst he was not willing to intervene in the dispute, it was federal land for the time being.
Attends Independence Day celebrations- 4th July 1850
It was a boiling hot Independence Day in Washington D.C. Taylor would attend another ceremony on the 4th July 1850, in which George Washington Parke Custis dedicated a stone. It was at this ceremony that Taylor enjoyed a number of cherries washed down with iced milk. Little did he know that this action would be fatal.
Signs a proclamation ratifying the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty- 5th July 1850
Taylor signed this proclamation ‘Done at the city of Washington, this fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, and of the independence of the United States the seventy-fifth.’
Acknowledges his likely death- 8th July 1850
Following the Independence Day celebrations, Taylor had started to feel rather ill. Doctors at the time diagnosed a form of cholera. Wracked by intense stomach pains, diarrhea and a fever, Taylor realised that the end was likely near. On this day, he told a medical attendant that he would ‘not be surprised’ if this illness killed him.
Dies- 9th July 1850
On the 9th July 1850, Zachary Taylor died aged sixty-five in Washington D.C. His last words were some variation of ‘I regret nothing, but I am sorry to leave my friends.’ This was the second time that a sitting president had died in office. Millard Fillmore, his vice president, would take over the position. Taylor was buried initially in the Congressional Cemetery in D.C, but was moved later to join his parents in Louisville, with the cemetery now bearing his name. His death was the subject of some speculation, with some saying that Taylor was poisoned. The speculation was so strong that in 1991, his remains were exhumed for testing. It did not reveal any conclusive evidence that he was poisoned. Historians tend to rank Taylor quite lowly, though not at the absolute bottom, though his short tenure sees him considered a forgotten president as opposed to a truly bad one.
That’s it for Zachary Taylor! Tune in next week for Millard Fillmore, in which we’ll see him deal with the Fugitive Slave Act, Daniel Webster and a lot of new territories.
