Zachary Taylor: For Want of a Stamp

Zachary Taylor was arguably the most reluctant of our Presidents.

ZT: A Brief Run-Up

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was born in Virginia, but grew up near Louisville, when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. His family was relatively prosperous, but young Zachary, rather than opting for a classical education, preferred to learn from his frontier experience, and joined the very nascent US Military in 1804, about the time West Point was being established. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in 1808. 

When he married the former Margaret Mackall Smith, the two embarked on a life of frontier army living. They had four children; two died as babies. Like many other army officers with families, they kept their children with them until they were of schooling age – perhaps seven or eight. Then they were brought “east” to stay for their education, under the supervision of caring relatives.

Taylor would later say…