Zachary Taylor papers, 1812-1850
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Zachary Taylor papers, 1812-1850
- Creator
- Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850.
- Extent
- 1VF87M17: 9 items, 1VF87M17: 1 item.
- Subjects
- Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850.
- Clay, Henry, 1777-1852.
- Cushing, Thomas Humphery, 1755-1822.
- Favor, H. S.
- Jones, R.
- Mudd, J. H. Clay.
- Rawson, Levi.
- Stewart, Andrew, 1791-1872.
- Taylor, James, 1769-1848.
- White, M.
- Wood, R. G.
- Presidents.
- Soldiers
- Buena Vista, Battle of, 1847.
- Mexican War, 1846-1848.
- Louisville (Ky.)--History--19th century.
- Newport (Ky.)--History.
- United States--History--War of 1812
- Arrangement
- No discernible arrangement.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- U.S. President, soldier. A Virginian by birth, Zachary Taylor was raised in Jefferson County, Ky. He pursued a military career and defended Fort Harrison on the Wabash, the first American land victory of the War of 1812. After the war he continued his farming interests in Kentucky and purchased plantations in Louisiana and Mississippi. During the 1830s he served in Florida fighting Seminole and Mikasuki Indians. Before the Mexican War Taylor was involved with guarding pioneer settlements and maintaining peace with Indian tribes. Known as Old Rough and Ready since his service in Florida, Taylor was a brevetted brigadier-general at the outbreak of the Mexican War where he saw his greatest success against Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847. His Mexican War triumphs helped him to win the presidency in 1848 as the Whig Party candidate. Taylor died in office on July 9, 1850.
- Scope and Content
- This is a small but significant collection of correspondence by Zachary Taylor.The letters (1VF87M17) follow his military and political career through his service during the War of 1812, in the swamps of Florida in the 1830s, and in Texas and Mexico during the Mexican War. Most notable is a letter to Dr. R. G. Wood written from Aqua Nueva, Mexico on March 1, 1847, shortly after the Battle of Buena Vista. In this letter Taylor describes "the bloody and hard fought battle" and its aftermath. Several letters relate to Taylor's nomination for the presidency, including one to Congressman Andrew Stewart of Pennsylvania. In a letter of 1842 Taylor writes to Col. M. White of New Orleans of his financial condition, cotton, and floods on the Mississippi. Only one letter in the collection dates from Taylor's brief term as president. It is a thank you letter written four days before Taylor died.
- In addition to Wood and Stewart other correspondents include General Thomas H. Cushing, H. S. Favor, General R. Jones, J. H. Clay Mudd, Levi Rawson, General James Taylor, and Colonel M. White. Accession 1VF87M17 is a single but lengthy letter to Dr. Wood written by Taylor in Monterey, Mexico on October 12, 1847. He discusses the Mexican War and the actions of several military officers. He comments on his feelings regarding his presidential aspirations and on Henry Clay's role in the next election.
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
