Contents
11 James K. Polk (1845-1849)
- Full name: James Knox Polk
- Born: November 2, 1795
- Died: June 15, 1849
- Age at inauguration: 53
- Political party: Democratic
- Known for: Called the “least known consequential president”, Polk is applauded for having set an agenda and achieved all of it.
- What you may not know about Polk: He made the United States a coast-to-coast nation, by acquiring both Texas and New Mexico from Mexico
The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government. -James K. Polk
12 Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
- Full name: Zachary Taylor
- Born: November 24, 1784
- Died: July 9, 1850
- Age at inauguration: 64
- Political party: Whig
- Known for: As a president, Taylor didn’t get much work done. Not only because he died in office, but also because he seemed to have more feeling for battle than for politics. Luckily he became a national hero as a military leader during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), where he won several battles at the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Monterey. This is also why he became president somehow.
- What you may not know about Taylor: Over the years many people believed that Taylor was assassinated, instead of dying of natural causes. Even in 1991 his body was exhumed and examined. No poison or proof of foul-play was found.
I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me. -Zachary Taylor
13 Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
- Full name: Millard Fillmore
- Born: January 7, 1800
- Died: March 8, 1874
- Age at inauguration: 50
- Political party: Whig
- Known for: He assembled an entirely new cabinet, because the entire cabinet resigned after Taylor’s sudden death and Fillmore took office. His biggest political “contribution”, mostly by help of his newly appointed cabinet, was the “Compromise”, meaning the state of Texas was allowed to keep slavery legal and other “new” states to vote for this right. This did not make the northern politicians happy.
- What you may not know about Fillmore: Fillmore was also known as the first president not to have great personal fortune through inheritance, marriage or otherwise. He was always a man of modest wealth and public service
May God save the country, for it is evident that the people will not. -Millard Fillmore
14 Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
- Full name: Franklin Pierce
- Born: November 23, 1804
- Died: October 8, 1869
- Age at inauguration: 48
- Political party: Democratic
- Known for: Pierce assembled a very diverse cabinet, which -much against everyone’s prediction- remained intact during his entire four-year presidency term. As of today this is the only cabinet to achieve this. He only had a Vice President for just over one month, VP William R. King died about six weeks after Pierce’s inauguration.
- What you may not know about Pierce: Although Pierce was quite a popular fellow with many friends, in his personal life he suffered some great tragedy as all of his children died young. Unfortunately his friendships could not prevent Pierce from being labeled as one of the worst US Presidents in history.
If your past is limited, your future is boundless. -Franklin Pierce
15 James Buchanan (1857-1861)
- Full name: James Buchanan, Jr.
- Born: April 23, 1791
- Died: June 1, 1868
- Age at inauguration: 65
- Political party: Democratic
- Known for: Many historians put Buchanan at the top of the their list. Unfortunately that list is of worst US Presidents.
- What you may not know about Buchanan: He’s accused of meddling with the “Dred Scott Case” which was decided in favor of slave states which could no longer be denied pro-slavery laws by the government.
The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there. -James Buchanan