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Margaret Smith Taylor - [Betty Taylor Pictured]
Date of Birth: Sept 21, 1788
Date of Death: Aug 18, 1852
Age at death: 63
Married: June 21, 1810 - Zachary
Taylor
Children: 6 |
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- Margaret Smith met Zachary while he
was on leave from the Army
- Once they were married she often traveled
with him on military tours, and when they were apart Peggy supposedly
promised God that in exchange for his safety she would refrain
from excess social activity
- She had little interest in politics
and reportedly fainted when told of her husband's nomination
for president
- She kept her vow after he was elected,
and participated sparingly in her duties as White House Hostess
- Six difficult childbirths, and a bout
with bilious fever may have been the real reason for her lack
of involvement
- She did attend informal affairs, but
left the formal administrative duties to her daughter Betty Bliss,
pictured above
- There is no known portrait or photo
of Margaret
- Mrs. Taylor became the first widowed
First Lady when the president died from acute indigestion in
the summer of 1850
- Upon his death, she refused to permit
a death mask to be taken, and did not allow his body to be embalmed
- Amid speculation the president may
have been poisoned, his body was exhumed in 1994
- An autopsy confirmed Taylor died from
natural causes
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