Historedia
Person

Zachary Taylor

Events
7
Episodes
16
Years
1846–1850

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Zachary Taylor, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Outbreak of the Mexican–American War over the disputed Texas border

    1846

    Role: U.S. General

    1. April 25, 1846 · Contested territory north of the Rio Grande and south of the Nueces River, about 20 miles west upriver from Taylor's campThe Thornton Affair

      Mexican forces attacked a U.S. patrol in the disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, sparking the war.

    2. May 8, 1846 · Disputed ground near BrownsvilleBattle of Palo Alto

      Taylor defeated Mexican forces in the first major battle of the war.

    3. May 13, 1846 · U.S. CapitalDeclaration of War

      The United States formally declared war on Mexico following the initial hostilities.

  2. Battle of Buena Vista

    1847

    Role: U.S. General

    1. February 22–23, 1847 · Buena Vista, CoahuilaBattle of Buena Vista

      U.S. forces under Taylor repelled Santa Anna's larger but exhausted Mexican Army near Buena Vista, Coahuila, on February 22–23, 1847.

  3. United States Presidential Election of 1848

    1848

    Role: Whig Presidential Nominee

    1. 1848 · National ConventionWhig National Convention

      The Whig Party nominated Zachary Taylor for president, defeating Henry Clay and Winfield Scott, despite Taylor's initial reluctance.

    2. 1848 · National ConventionDemocratic National Convention

      Lewis Cass was nominated after Martin Van Buren withdrew, causing a party split over popular sovereignty.

    3. November 7, 1848 · United StatesElection Day

      Voting occurred on November 7, 1848, marking the first time all states voted on the same day.

  4. Event of 1849: After 17 days of deadlock and 63 votes, Democrat Howell Cobb of Georgia is elect

    1849

    Role: President of the United States

    1. December 3–22, 1849 · Washington, D.C.House Speakership Deadlock

      The 31st Congress House election for Speaker required 63 ballots between December 3 and 22, 1849, due to the lack of a majority.

    2. December 22, 1849 · Washington, D.C.Cobb Elected Speaker

      Democrat Howell Cobb was elected Speaker on December 22, 1849, at age 34, after 63 ballots.

  5. Zachary Taylor becomes 12th president; the Atchison 'president for a day' legend

    1849

    Role: 12th President of the United States

    1. March 4, 1849 · Washington, D.C.Refusal to Swear In on Sunday

      Taylor refused to take the oath on March 4 because it fell on a Sunday, delaying his inauguration to the next day.

    2. March 4-5, 1849 · Washington, D.C.The Atchison Legend Claim

      Associates claimed Atchison was acting president for 24 hours because neither Taylor nor Fillmore had been sworn in on March 4.

    3. March 5, 1849 · United States CapitolActual Swearing-In on March 5

      Taylor was sworn in on Monday, March 5, 1849, after the Sunday delay.

  6. Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850

    1850

    Role: President who opposed the plan

    1. January 29, 1850 · United States CongressIntroduction of the Compromise

      Senator Henry Clay introduced a plan combining major issues to Congress on January 29, 1850, to resolve the deadlock over the Mexican Cession.

    2. May 1850 · unspecified in sourcesConflict with President Taylor

      Clay openly broke with President Taylor in May 1850 over the approach to admitting California and New Mexico as free states.

  7. Zachary Taylor dies; Millard Fillmore becomes 13th President

    1850

    Role: 12th President of the United States

    1. July 9, 1850 · Washington, D.C.Death of Zachary Taylor

      President Zachary Taylor died on July 9, 1850, in Washington, D.C., at age 65, following illness after July 4 celebrations.

    2. July 10, 1850 · Washington, D.C.Fillmore Swearing-In

      Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th President on July 10, 1850, in Washington, D.C.

Sources

  1. Zachary Taylor Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  2. Thornton Affair Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-27
  3. Battle of Buena Vista Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-04
  4. 1848 United States presidential election Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-20
  5. 31st United States Congress Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-19
  6. Howell Cobb Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-06
  7. United States presidential inauguration Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-10
  8. Henry Clay Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  9. Compromise of 1850 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26