Taylor was elected the 12th president of
the United States in 1848. He died after
only 16 months in office.
Early Life
Zachary Taylor was born on November
24, 1784, in Montebello, Virginia. His
parents, Richard Taylor and Mary
Strother, came from important Virginia
families. Zachary grew up on a plantation
in what is now Kentucky. There
were no schools nearby, so he learned
from a tutor.
In 1810 Taylor married Margaret Mackall
Smith. They had six children.
Military Career
Taylor joined the Army in 1806. Over
the next 40 years he became a respected
military leader. His strength and courage
earned him the nickname Old Rough
and Ready. Taylor commanded troops in
theWar of 1812 and against Native
Americans in various battles.
In 1846, just before the MexicanWar,
Taylor defended the border of Texas
against Mexican troops. Taylor’s troops
defeated the Mexicans in two battles.
After the United States declared war,
Taylor crossed into Mexico and captured
the city of Monterrey. In 1847 Taylor’s
forces defeated a larger Mexican army in
In the Boston Tea Party of 1773, some
American colonists destroyed tea to protest
a British tax.
Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of
the United States.
22 Taylor, Zachary BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
the battle of Buena Vista. That victory
made Taylor a national hero.
Presidency
The Whig Party chose Taylor to run for
president in 1848. He defeated the
Democratic candidate, Lewis Cass, in
the election. Taylor was the first man to
become president without any experience
in politics.
President Taylor had to deal with the
difficult issue of slavery. Although he
owned slaves, Taylor opposed the spread
of slavery. In 1849 he recommended
that California be admitted to the
Union as a free state—one that would
not allow slavery. Taylor’s recommendation
angered proslavery Southerners in
Congress.
Taylor did not live to see the
Compromise of 1850, which temporarily
settled the slavery crisis.On July 4, 1850,
he became ill with cholera.He died on
July 9 inWashington, D.C. Vice
PresidentMillard Fillmore became
president.
..More to explore
Fillmore, Millard • MexicanWar
• Slavery • United States •War of 1812
Tbilisi
Population
(2006 estimate)
1,103,300
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, a small
country in the Caucasus Mountains of
Asia. The city lies on the Kura River. It
is Georgia’s largest city by far. It is also a
major center of industry, culture, and
research.
November 24, July 9,
1784 1806 1812 1847 1848 1849 1850
Taylor is born
in Montebello,
Virginia.
Taylor joins
the Army.
Taylor leads
troops in the
War of 1812.
Taylor defeats
a Mexican
army in the
Mexican War.
Taylor is
elected
president.
Taylor fights
the spread of
slavery.
Taylor dies in
Washington,
D.C.; Millard
Fillmore becomes
president.
T I M E L I N E
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Tbilisi 23
Factories in Tbilisi make machinery,
clothing, processed foods, and drinks.
Many people in the city work for the
government or in tourism or other service
industries. Tourists often visit
Tbilisi to bathe in the natural hot
springs, where hot mineral water spouts
from the ground.
Tbilisi was founded in the 450s. The
city lay along an important trade route
between east and west. This made Tbilisi
a valuable prize for many conquering
groups. Over the centuries it was ruled
by the Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, and
Mongols.
In 1801 Russia captured Tbilisi. It
became the capital of the Russian province
of Georgia. The Soviet Union made
Georgia one of its republics in 1921. In
1991 Georgia became an independent
country with Tbilisi as its capital.
#More to explore
Georgia, Republic of
Tea
Tea is a strong and energizing drink. It is
made by soaking the leaves of the tea
plant in hot water. Tea is especially
popular in Asia, the United Kingdom,
many former British colonies, and the
Middle East.
The most common types of tea are black
and green, both of which are made from
the same plant. The plant likely grew
first in China. It now also grows in
many other parts of Asia, especially
India. Countries in eastern Europe,
Africa, and South America also grow tea.
Some teas have added scents or flavors,
such as jasmine or orange. Although
Shops in Tbilisi, Georgia, use
both the Georgian alphabet and
the Latin alphabet for their signs.
Workers pick tea leaves in
Malaysia.
24 Tea BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
most people drink their tea hot, many
people in the United States drink iced
tea. Other hot drinks made with plant
leaves, flowers, or roots may also be
called tea. Examples include chamomile
tea, South American mate, and South
African rooibos, or red tea.
According to legend, people first drank
tea in China in about 2700 BC. At first
people used tea as medicine. In about
the AD 200s it became a daily drink. The
Dutch and the English brought tea from
China to Europe in the 1600s. From
there it spread to Europe’s colonies.
Technology and
Invention
Technology is the use of knowledge to
invent new devices or tools. Throughout
history, technology has made people’s
lives easier.
Ancient Technology
Early humans set themselves apart from
other animals when they learned to
control fire. About 2 million years ago,
