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- Nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready," Taylor rode his horse sidesaddle when he fought during the Mexican War. Taylor fought and won in several famous campaigns including the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War
- Taught by tutors that were occasionally hired by his father, Taylor received only a very basic education while growing up. He was uninterested in politics until he ran for the presidency
- It was this popularity that won him the presidency in 1849
When Taylor died of gastroenteritis, an illness not uncommon in Washington, DC, due to poor sanitation, he had only been president for 16 months
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