Zachary Taylor

daguerreotype of Zachary Taylor c. 1844, Zachary_Taylor_half_plate_daguerreotype_c1843-45.png: unknown, possibly Maguire of New Orleansderivative work: Beao [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Date of Birth: November 24, 1784

Place of Birth: Barboursville, Virginia, U.S.

Date of Death: July 9, 1850

Place of Death: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Ethnicity: English

Zachary Taylor was an American politician and army major general. A member of the Whig Party, he served as the 12th President of the United States, from March 4, 1849 to July 9, 1850. He was elected to the position in 1848. He served as president until his death from an illness.

President Taylor was the son of Sarah Dabney (Strother) and Richard Taylor, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Revolution. He was married to Margaret Mackall (Smith) Taylor, with whom he had six children. One of their children, Sarah Knox Taylor, was married to politician Jefferson Davis, until her death; Jefferson was later President of the Confederacy. President Taylor was a great-great-great-great-uncle of actor Parker Stevenson. His brother, Joseph Pannell Taylor, was Parker’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather.

President Taylor’s paternal grandfather was Zachary Taylor (the son of James Taylor, Jr. and Martha Thompson). President Taylor’s grandfather Zachary was born in Orange County, Virginia. James was the son of English parents, James Taylor, who was likely from Carlisle, and Frances. Martha was the daughter of Roger Thompson.

President Taylor’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Lee (the daughter of Hancock Lee and Sarah Elizabeth Allerton). President Taylor’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Virginia. Hancock was the son of English parents, Richard Lee and Anne Constable. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Allerton, Jr., the son of Mayflower passenger Isaac Allerton, and the grandson of prominent Pilgrim and Mayflower passenger, William Brewster; and of Elizabeth Willoughby.

President Taylor’s maternal grandfather was William Strother (the son of Francis Strother and Susannah Dabney). William was born in Virginia. Francis was the son of William Strother, Jr., who was born in Northumberland, England, and of Margaret Thornton.

President Taylor’s maternal grandmother was named Sarah Bayly/Bayley/Bailey. Sarah was born in Virginia, and may have been the daughter of Samuel Bailey/Bayly/Bayley, Jr. and Elizabeth Baker. Samuel was the son of Samuel Bailey and Sarah Peirce/Pierce. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Baker and Jane Dew.

President Taylor was a second cousin of U.S. President James Madison. President Taylor’s paternal great-grandparents, James Taylor and Martha Thompson, were also President Madison’s paternal great-grandparents. He was also a third cousin, once removed, of President Madison, through their shared ancestors Francis Thornton and Alice Savage.

Sources: Genealogies of President Taylor – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://famouskin.com
https://www.findagrave.com