Downtown in Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
U.S. Army General and twelfth President
of the United States
Known to Americans as
"Old Rough and Ready"
and who lived for a time some 200 yards
southwest of this spot
This marker placed in 1951 by
Camp Louisiana
Woodmen of the World
Erected 1951 by Louisiana Camp Woodmen of the World.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War of 1812 • War, Mexican-American • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #12 Zachary Taylor series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.
Location. 30° 27.284′ N, 91° 11.3′ W. Marker is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish. It is in Downtown. Memorial is at the intersection of North 3rd Street and Spanish Town Road, on the left when traveling south on North 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baton Rouge LA 70802, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bogalusa to Baton Rouge March (a few steps from this marker); Pentagon Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Ole War Skule (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sigma Iota (about 300 feet away); Pentagon Buildings (about 300 feet away); Fort San Carlos (about 400 feet away); Battle Of Baton Rouge, 1862 (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Fort San Carlos (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baton Rouge.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2015
3. Zachary Taylor
This 1848 portrait of Zachary Taylor by James Reid Lambdin hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“Throughout his career as a professional soldier Zachary Taylor took no more than a passing, interest in politics. But his victories at the battles of Palo Alto, Monterrey, and Buena Vista during the Mexican War changed all of that. In their wake, this ‘rough and ready’ general became eminently ripe for elective office. Even if Taylor had wanted to, he perhaps could not have stopped the groundswell of determination within the Whig Party to elect him president in 1848.
Upon entering the White House, Taylor declared his intention to bring harmony to the Union. Yet his refusal to placate the South by allowing slavery in some of the new territories acquired during the Mexican war did quite the opposite. Within a year of Taylor's coming to office, the country seemed to be moving toward civil war. Only after his unexpected death in July 1850 did compromise on this divisive issue become possible.” — National Portrait Gallery
“Throughout his career as a professional soldier Zachary Taylor took no more than a passing, interest in politics. But his victories at the battles of Palo Alto, Monterrey, and Buena Vista during the Mexican War changed all of that. In their wake, this ‘rough and ready’ general became eminently ripe for elective office. Even if Taylor had wanted to, he perhaps could not have stopped the groundswell of determination within the Whig Party to elect him president in 1848.
Upon entering the White House, Taylor declared his intention to bring harmony to the Union. Yet his refusal to placate the South by allowing slavery in some of the new territories acquired during the Mexican war did quite the opposite. Within a year of Taylor's coming to office, the country seemed to be moving toward civil war. Only after his unexpected death in July 1850 did compromise on this divisive issue become possible.” — National Portrait Gallery
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2015. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2015. 3. submitted on August 27, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.