Zachary Taylor"Old Rough and Ready"

Zachary Taylor was born November 24, 1784. He spent nearly four decades as a U.S. Army officer, fighting in the War of 1812, various conflicts with Native American nations, and most famously the Mexican-American War, where his decisive victories (particularly at the Battle of Buena Vista) made him a national hero and popular political figure despite having never held elected office or even voted in a presidential election before running himself. The Whig Party nominated him in 1848 largely on the strength of his military fame, and he won the presidency despite having no clear political platform. His brief presidency (1849–1850) was consumed by growing tensions over whether new territories gained from the Mexican-American War would permit slavery, but he died suddenly in July 1850, just 16 months into his term, after a short illness.