Zachary Taylor     

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was the 12th President of the United States. He was the second cousin of James Madison, the 4th U.S. President.  
 

Taylor was a general in the United States Army. He led an army during the Mexican-American War. He was selected by the Whig Party to be their candidate for the presidency, because he was a famous general.

During his term, slavery was a big issue in the U.S., because the Northerners wanted no more slavery in the U.S., and they wanted to stop newly-formed states from allowing slavery. The Southerners, however, believed that they had the right to keep their slaves, and many people feared that they would choose to not be a part of the United States anymore (a decision which they eventually did make in 1860).  
 

Taylor did not like the idea of the Southern states leaving the United States, at all. As President, he threatened to use military force against them if they were to do that.  

Taylor never voted until he was 62 years old. He was never a resident of the United States.  
 

Sixteen months into his presidency, Zachary Taylor died, and his Vice-President, Millard Fillmore, became the U.S. President who took his place.  

The Compromise of 1850 (a proposal including several laws that would calm down the slavery issue, by pleasing both the North and the South) was voted on, in Congress, shortly after his death.