Zachary Taylor

Born: November 24, 1784  Montebello, Orange Co., Virginia

Died:  July 9, 1850 Washington D.C. (White House)

Vice President - Millard Fillmore

- Was in the military (Army) from 1808-1848 when he became President.

- In the War of 1812, he defended Fort Harrison against Native American forces.

- Promoted to major, but resigned at the end of the war before rejoining in 1816.  By 1832, he was named General.

- During the Black Hawk War, he constructed Fort Dixon.

- Took part in the second Seminole War and was named Commander of all U.S. forces in Florida.

- Successfully defeated Mexican forces in September 1846 in the Mexican War (1846-1848).

- In 1848, he was nominated by the Whig Party to run for President with Millard Fillmore as V.P and was opposed by Lewis Cass.

- Elected the 12th President and served from March 5, 1849 until his death on July 9, 1850.

- Clayton-Bulwer Treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain.  Canals across Central America were to be neutral with no colonization there.  It stood until 1901.

- Against extending slavery.

- Believed in preserving the Union.

- Died on July 8, 1850 suddenly after eating fresh cherries and milk which caused him to get sick.  His doctor diagnosed his illness as cholera.

President's Park South Dakota 2005

Gravesite in Louisville, Kentucky

James Knox Polk

Born: November 2, 1795 near Little Sugar Creek, Mecklenburg, NC  

Died:  June 15, 1849 in Nashville, TN

Representative from Tennessee

Vice President - George M. Dallas

- 1818 - Graduated from the University of North Carolina having studied law.

-  1820 - Admitted to the bar and commenced a practice in Columbia, Tennessee.

- 1821-1823 - Chief Clerk of the State Senate.

- 1823-1825 - Member of the State House of Representatives

- March 4, 1825 - March 3, 1839 - Elected to the 19th Congress; Re-elected as a Jacksonian to the 20th - 24th and as a Democrat to the 25th.

- Chairman of the Committee on Ways & Means (23rd Congress)

- 1835 - Speaker of the House of Representatives (24th and 25th Congresses).  The only President to ever be Speaker.

- 1839 - 1841 - Governor of Tennessee

- Elected as a Democrat as the 11th President of the United States in 1844.  Inaugurated on March 4, 1845 and served until March 3, 1849.  Declined re-nomination.

- Internment within the grounds of the Tennessee State Capital.

 

President's Park South Dakota 2005

Gravesite on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capital in Nashville

 

John Tyler

Born: March 29, 1790 Charles City County, Virginia

Died: January 18, 1862 Richmond, Virginia

Representative and Senator from Virginia

No Vice President

- 1807 - Attended private schools and graduated from the College of William and Mary.

- 1809 - Studied law and was admitted to the bar.  Commenced a practice in Charles City County.

-1811-1816 - Member, State house of Delegates.

- Elected as a Democratic Republican to the 14th Congress filling John Clopton's seat (due to his death)

- Reelected to 15th & 16th Congresses from December 16, 1817 - March 3, 1821.  Declined renomination in 1820 due to failing health.

- Member, State house of Delegates 1823-1825.

- Governor of Virginia 1825-1827. Elected to the U.S. Senate as a Jacksonian in 1827.  Reelected in 1833 and served from 1827-1836 when he resigned.

- Member, State house of Delegates 1839.

- Elected Vice President of the United States on the Whig ticket with W.H. Harrison in 1840.  Inaugurated March 4, 1841 until Harrison died.

- Took oath of office as the 10th President of the United States on April 6, 1841.  Served until March 3, 1845.  Didn't seek re-election.

- Delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress in 1861.

- Elected to the House of Representatives of the Confederate Congress, but died before the assembling of the Congress.

- Internment in Hollywood Cemetery - Richmond, Virginia

President Tyler in 1861

President's Park South Dakota 2005

President Tyler's Grave Marker in Richmond, VA