How Did President Zachary Taylor Die? - CountyOffice.org

Summary

The video delves into the mysterious death of President Zachary Taylor, who passed away suddenly on July 9, 1850. After attending a 4th of July celebration in extreme heat, Taylor consumed raw fruits and cold drinks, leading to severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite aggressive treatments, he succumbed to his illness. While some speculate heat stroke or arsenic poisoning, the most accepted cause is gastroenteritis. His death remains a topic of intrigue, but it is generally considered a natural end, as confirmed by later exhumation. The video encourages users to explore local property records on County Office.org for further information.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zachary Taylor's sudden death in 1850 remains a topic of speculation and mystery.
• 😀 On July 4th, 1850, President Taylor attended a celebration at the Washington Monument during a blistering heatwave.
• 😀 After the ceremony, he walked along the Potomac River, then indulged in large amounts of raw fruits, especially cherries, and drank cold water and milk.
• 😀 Despite his physician's warnings, Taylor's overindulgence in food and drink led to severe health issues.
• 😀 By the evening, Taylor began experiencing abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea, which worsened over the next few days.
• 😀 Doctors diagnosed him with cholera morbis, a term for severe gastrointestinal symptoms but not the actual disease of cholera.
• 😀 Taylor was treated with mercury chloride (calomel), quinine, and opium, but none of the treatments provided relief.
• 😀 By July 8th, Taylor's condition worsened, and he predicted his own death, regretting only leaving his friends behind.
• 😀 President Taylor passed away at 10:35 p.m. on July 9th, 1850, with an estimated 100,000 people attending his funeral procession.
• 😀 The cause of his death remains debated, but the most widely accepted theory is gastroenteritis caused by contaminated food and water.
• 😀 An exhumation and analysis of his remains in the late 20th century confirmed that his death was due to natural causes, specifically gastroenteritis.

Q & A

What event did President Zachary Taylor attend on July 4th, 1850?

President Zachary Taylor attended a 4th of July celebration at the Washington Monument in 1850.

What were the weather conditions like on the day of President Taylor's death?

The day was blisteringly hot, which contributed to President Taylor's health issues.

What did President Taylor consume that led to his illness?

President Taylor overindulged in large quantities of raw fruits, particularly cherries, and drank a lot of cold water and milk, despite his physician's warnings.

What was the initial diagnosis of President Taylor's condition?

Taylor's doctors diagnosed him with 'choleramorbia,' a term referring to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, though not the actual disease of cholera.

What medical treatments were used to try and treat President Taylor?

President Taylor was treated with calomel (a mercury chloride solution), quinine (to reduce his fever), and opium (to alleviate his pain), but these treatments provided no significant relief.

How did President Taylor's health deteriorate leading up to his death?

By July 8th, President Taylor's condition worsened, with symptoms progressing to include intense vomiting, diarrhea, and a fever. He was depressed and predicted his own death.

When did President Zachary Taylor pass away?

President Zachary Taylor passed away on the night of July 9th, 1850, at around 10:35 p.m.

How was President Taylor's funeral conducted?

President Taylor's funeral was a grand affair, with an estimated 100,000 people attending the procession in Washington, D.C.

Where was President Taylor ultimately buried?

President Taylor was buried in Louisville, Kentucky.

What are some theories about the cause of President Taylor's death?

While some historians suggest heat stroke or gastroenteritis due to contaminated food and water, others speculated about more sinister causes like arsenic poisoning. However, the most widely accepted conclusion is that his death was due to natural causes, specifically gastroenteritis.