Taylor, Zachary (The Encyclopedia Americana, 1920)

What it is

This is an entry on Zachary Taylor, 12th President of the United States, written by R. C. McGrane for The Encyclopedia Americana, published in New York in 1920. It is a reference article, not a document by Taylor. It gives his birth date in Orange County, Virginia, and his death date in 1850, and describes his service in the War of 1812, including his success in defending Fort Harrison.

Why it matters

The entry shows how a 1920 reference work described Taylor's rise through the army, from first lieutenant to colonel, before his nomination for the presidency. It was written decades after the events, so its account depends on earlier records and on the author's judgment about what mattered. It helps students see how historians of that period framed a career built on frontier service.

Look closer

• Which steps in Taylor's army career does the article describe in detail, and why?
• How does the author describe Taylor's family background, and what does that suggest about the writer's choices?
• What does the article leave out about the people Taylor fought or the frontier communities he served?