President Abraham Lincoln signs a law authorizing the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration. This award is intended to recognize exceptional acts of bravery during wartime.

TODAY’S PATRIOT

Zachary Taylor (1784–1850) – A career military officer and national war hero, Zachary Taylor rose to prominence during the Mexican-American War. His victories at Palo Alto, Monterrey, and Buena Vista earned him the nickname “”Old Rough and Ready.”” He was elected the 12th President of the United States, where he tried to avoid sectional conflict despite being a slaveholder. Taylor opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, angering Southern leaders. He died suddenly in office, but his dedication to national unity and service to country is still honored.

Taylor famously refused to be told how to vote or govern based on party lines. When Southern leaders threatened secession over California’s entry as a free state, Taylor—despite owning slaves himself—responded harshly, reportedly saying he would personally lead the Army against any state that tried to leave the Union. “The Union,” he declared, “will be preserved at all hazards.” His unexpected firmness shocked many in the South and showed that Taylor, though a Southern planter, placed country above sectional loyalty.