The Exhumation of President Zachary Taylor

By Crusader1307

Long seen by some as a ‘’Mystery of History’’,  Zachary Taylor was 12th President of The United States.  If not for that ‘’small’’ fact, most Americans (and everybody else), would know VERY little about this Statesman. His lackluster career lasted only 16 months before His death in Office in 1850. But in this lies the mystery. Almost as soon as Taylor died – rumors of poisoning and assassination began. Quickly dismissed, President Taylor was buried and so were the rumors. But first, a look at the Man who was. Taylor was a Southerner, born to what would be considered today as an ‘’Upper Middle Class’’ Family. His Parets owned Slaves (Virginia). Educated by His Mother, He would attend formal School (private) until almost 12 years old. Deciding on a career in The Military, Taylor joined a Militia in Kentucky as an Officer. He would rise very quickly in this vocation, thru several Native American Conflicts (Blackhawk Wars and The Seminole Indian Wars). It was however, The Mexican War of the mid-1840s, that ‘’made His name’’. As a General by this point, Taylor won several key battles and became a ‘’household name’’.

Having no real political ambition (let alone opinions), Taylor was eyed by The Whig Political Party as a ‘’controllable Moderate’’. The Country was experiencing the beginnings of sectionalism between The North and South over the issue of Slavery. Threats of a ‘’civil war’’ ran rampant throughout The US Congress. Someone like Taylor was seen as an ‘’olive branch’’ to Southern ‘’firebrands’’. But despite The Whig’s belief, Taylor (although a Southerner) – was a ‘’die hard Unionist’’. He sought to find compromise to keep The South ‘’in the fold’’. After His hesitancy in pushing thru what would become The ‘’Compromise of 1850’’ (which was put forth in 1849), many Southern ‘’power brokers’’ were extremely angry, and saw Taylor as a ‘’Traitor’’.

Flash forward to July 4th of 1850. Taylor had developed a particular dietary ‘’delight’’ which involved fresh Cherries placed into iced Milk (perhaps a kind of early ice cream for some). On the night of the 4th, Taylor ‘’polished off copious amounts’’ of the treat. Later that night, he complained of stomach pain and took to His bed with ‘’a fever’’. He grew sicker and Doctors wee summoned. Every ‘’tonic and concoction’’ was given. Taylor would die on the 9th of was what Doctor’s called a ‘’stomach Cholera’’. Unfortunately, NO evidence of ‘’Cholera Outbreaks’’ were present in Washington DC (although then the majestic City was surrounded by swamps and woods and ripe for such in the Summer time).

Rumors of assassination abounded, but Taylor was buried. The rumor apparently never died. In 1978, Historians advanced the theory of ‘’arsenic poisoning’’, but no One in The American Congress was interested. Finally in 1991, enough doubt was raised – that a living descendant of Taylor was found. With permission given to exhume Taylor’s remains, perhaps (using modern forensic technology) – it could b determined that 16th US president Abraham Lincon was NOT the first Chief Executive to have assassinated in American History. In June of 1991, President Taylor was exhumed by The Kentucky State Medical Examiner for ‘’examination’’.

Not much remained of the former President. Nail, hair and some surviving stomach tissue was removed and examined (bodily locations which would easily prove arsenic ingestion). But ’’levels’’ of the substance (while present), were too low to conclusively prove death (some arsenic present could be explained by many factors common in  life during the 19th Century). The Medical Examiner found ‘’evidence’’ of ‘’stomach issues’’ which may well be related to what Taylor’s Medical Staff deemed ‘’Cholera’’. They advanced the counter theory that Taylor’s ‘’desert’’ may have been accidently contaminated by Cholera. Reburied with full Presidential Honors, Taylor’s ‘’death’’ was allowed to stand. But many Historian's cite ‘’improper testing’’ as the ‘’true reason’’ for the modern findings.