On this day in 1850, President Zachary Taylor died from an illness still not entirely understood. The going theory is that he died after contracting cholera from drinking contaminated water at a celebration of the dedication of grounds for the future Washington Monument. Nobody suggested foul play at the time, though nobody seems to have ruled it out entirely. His doctors described his death as being due to a sickness with symptoms very similar to what those with cholera experienced.
Taylor had been considered a war hero after serving in the Mexican War and was firmly opposed to secession, threatening military action against any state that tried. His sudden death shocked the nation. His vice president, Millard Fillmore, became president on July 10. Three days later, his funeral route in Washington, D.C. was attended by 100,000 people. He was buried in Louisville, Ky. at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery and Monument.
To read more, you can check out this article from the state of Kentucky's official history website.
