July 9, 1850: Zachary Taylor died. He was the 12th president, serving from 1849-50. He had fallen ill on the 4th of July. Known as "Old Rough and Ready," President Taylor died just 16 months into his term. The cause of his death was never determined. After his death, Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in, becoming the 13th president. Fillmore's swearing in capped a tumultuous time in the history of the American presidency: six presidents in nine years.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks groundSpeed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resignsSpeed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
