Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest

by K. Jack Bauer

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Book Overview: Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest

Considering the course his life took, one might wonder how Zachary Taylor ever came to be elected the twelfth president of the United States. According to K. Jack Bauer, Taylor “was and remains an enigma.” He was a southerner who espoused many antisouthern causes, an aristocrat with a strong feeling for the common man, an energetic yet cautious and conservative soldier. Not an intellectual, Taylor showed little curiosity about the world around him. In this biography–the most comprehensive since Holman Hamilton’s two-volume work published forty years ago–Bauer offers a fresh appraisal of Taylor’s life and suggests that Taylor may have been neither so simple nor so nonpolitical as many historians have believed.

Taylor’s sixteen months as president were marked by disputes over California statehood and the Texas-New Mexico boundary. Taylor vehemently opposed slavery extension and threatened to hang those southern hotheads who favored violence and secession as a means to protect their interests. He died just as he had begun a reorganization of his administration and a recasting of the Whig party.

Balanced and judicious, forthright and unreverential, and based on thoroughgoing research, this book will be for many years the standard biography of Zachary Taylor.

ISBN-13	9780807118511
ISBN-10	0807118516
Publisher	LSU Press
Publication Date	1993-08-01
Edition	Revised ed.
Language	en
Pages	348
Dimensions	in x in x in
Weight	lbs

Editorial Reviews

“Bauer does a masterful job of tracing Taylor’s military and political careers.” — Journal of American History

“A very solid study, based on the most recent scholarship and written authoritatively.” — Choice

“Students of U.S. history and government will find the Zachary Taylor who emerges from this biography to be a quite fascinating figure, both as an individual and in terms of his effect on the nation.” — Booklist

About the Author

K. Jack Bauer

K. Jack Bauer (1926 – 1987) was a notable American historian, skilled in maritime history and considered one of the most profound scholars of his era. A distinguished instructor, his career in academia was primarily centered at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where his passion for history illuminated his teachings.

Bauer’s expertise is best exemplified in his numerous publications; his most notable works include “A Maritime History of the United States” (1988) and “Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest” (1985). These influential contributions explore different sides of American history, showcasing Bauer’s unique take on the past.

Despite passing away in 1987, K. Jack Bauer’s work continues to inspire a new generation of historians. His insightful perspective, profound knowledge, and the lasting impression he left on his students are emblematic of Bauer’s enduring influence in the field of American history.