<P> Zachary Taylor ( November 24 , 1784 -- July 9 , 1850 ) was the 12th President of the United States , serving from March 1849 until his death in July 1850 . Before his presidency , Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army , rising to the rank of major general . Taylor 's status as a national hero as a result of his victories in the Mexican -- American War won him election to the White House despite his vague political beliefs . His top priority as president was preserving the Union , but he died 16 months into his term , before making any progress on the status of slavery , which had been inflaming tensions in Congress . He remains the only President to come from Louisiana . </P>
<P> Zachary Taylor ( November 24 , 1784 -- July 9 , 1850 ) was the 12th President of the United States , serving from March 1849 until his death in July 1850 . Before his presidency , Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army , rising to the rank of major general . Taylor 's status as a national hero as a result of his victories in the Mexican -- American War won him election to the White House despite his vague political beliefs . His top priority as president was preserving the Union , but he died 16 months into his term , before making any progress on the status of slavery , which had been inflaming tensions in Congress . He remains the only President to come from Louisiana . </P>
what military hero from the mexican war became potus
what military hero from the mexican war became potus
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor