108-541: The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is a science and history museum in Corpus Christi, Texas , near Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge and the waterfront. It was established in 1957. Among its many displays covering an area of over 40,000 square feet are many artifacts found in the wreck of the Spanish ship San Estaban , including the world's oldest mariner's astrolabe with a confirmed date of 1554. An extension to
216-635: A Pilgrim leader of the Plymouth Colony , a Mayflower immigrant, and a signer of the Mayflower Compact ; and Isaac Allerton Jr. , a colonial merchant, colonel, and son of Mayflower Pilgrim Isaac Allerton and Fear Brewster . Taylor's second cousin through that line was James Madison , the fourth president. He was also a member of the famous Lee family of Virginia, and a third cousin once removed of Confederate General Robert E. Lee . His family forsook its exhausted Virginia land, joined
324-407: A brevet promotion to major general and a formal commendation from Congress. In June, he was promoted to the full rank of major general. The national press compared him to George Washington and Andrew Jackson, both generals who had ascended to the presidency, but Taylor denied any interest in running for office. "Such an idea never entered my head," he remarked in a letter, "nor is it likely to enter
432-561: A colony of about 50 families to settle the head of the bay, though this was short-lived. In 1839, the first known permanent settlement of Corpus Christi was established by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney and William P. Aubrey as Kinney's Trading Post, or Kinney's Ranch. It was a small trading post that sold supplies to a Mexican revolutionary army camped about 25 mi (40 km) west. In July 1845, U.S. troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor set up camp there in preparation for war with Mexico , where they remained until March 1846. About
540-407: A contender for the vice-presidential nominee in the 1844 election . Fillmore's selection was largely an attempt at reconciliation with northern Whigs, who were furious at the nomination of a slave-owning southerner; no faction of the party was satisfied with the final ticket. It was initially unclear whether Taylor would accept the nomination because he did not respond to the letters notifying him of
648-752: A cost of over 1,500 Mexican casualties. Outmatched, the Mexican forces retreated, ensuring a "far-reaching" victory for the Americans. In recognition of his victory at Buena Vista, on July 4, 1847, Taylor was elected an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati , the Virginia branch of which included his father as a charter member. Taylor also was made a member of the Aztec Club of 1847 , Military Society of
756-450: A few words, that is, Taylor pronounced an epitaph for the entire Whig economic program. As president-elect, Taylor kept his distance from Washington, not resigning his Western Division command until late January 1849. He spent the months following the election formulating his cabinet selections. He was deliberate and quiet about his decisions, to the frustration of his fellow Whigs. While he despised patronage and political games, he endured
864-399: A flurry of advances from office-seekers looking to play a role in his administration. While he would appoint no Democrats, Taylor wanted his cabinet to reflect the nation's diverse interests, and so apportioned the seats geographically. He also avoided choosing prominent Whigs, sidestepping such obvious selections as Clay. He saw Crittenden as a cornerstone of his administration, offering him
972-547: A hero's welcome in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, setting the stage for the 1848 presidential election. Ulysses S. Grant served under Taylor in this war and said of his style of leadership: "A better army, man for man, probably never faced an enemy than the one commanded by General Taylor in the earliest two engagements of the Mexican War." General Taylor was not an officer to trouble the administration much with his demands but
1080-560: A letter from Scott about Taylor's smaller force, and he moved north, intent on destroying Taylor's force before confronting Scott's army. Learning of Santa Anna's approach, and refusing to retreat despite the Mexican army's greater numbers, Taylor established a strong defensive position near the town of Saltillo . Santa Anna attacked Taylor with 20,000 men at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847, leaving around 700 Americans dead or wounded at
1188-556: A minority group that could be and was frequently discriminated against. Such segregation and discrimination were ruled unconstitutional. Judge Woodrow Seals found that the school board consciously fostered a system that perpetuated traditional segregation. This included a system that bused Anglo students to schools out of their neighborhoods, renovated old schools in black and Mexican-American neighborhoods rather than building new ones, assigned black and Hispanic teachers to segregated schools, and limited hiring of such teachers at other schools;
SECTION 10
#17328512107751296-540: A presidential run had weakened, and it became clear that his principles resembled Whig orthodoxy. Taylor despised both Polk and his policies, while the Whigs were considering nominating another war hero for the presidency after the success of its previous winning nominee, William Henry Harrison , in 1840. As support for Taylor's candidacy grew, he continued to keep his distance from both parties, but made clear that he would have voted for Whig Henry Clay in 1844 had he voted. In
1404-525: A school operated by Elisha Ayer, a teacher originally from Connecticut. He also attended a Middletown, Kentucky , academy run by Kean O'Hara, a classically trained scholar from Ireland and the father of Theodore O'Hara . Ayer recalled Taylor as a patient and quick learner, but his early letters showed a weak grasp of spelling and grammar, as well as poor handwriting. All improved over time, but his handwriting remained difficult to read. In June 1810, Taylor married Margaret Mackall Smith , whom he had met
1512-585: A strong and sound banking system for the country, and thought that President Andrew Jackson should not have allowed the Second Bank of the United States to collapse in 1836. He believed it was impractical to expand slavery into the Western United States , as neither cotton nor sugar (both produced in great quantities as a result of slavery) could be easily grown there through a plantation economy . He
1620-633: A third-party effort led by former president Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams Sr. of the Free Soil Party . Taylor became the first president to be elected without having previously held political office. As president, he kept his distance from Congress and his Cabinet , even though partisan tensions threatened to divide the Union. Debate over the status of slavery in the Mexican Cession dominated
1728-460: A war hero who could replicate the success of the party's only other successful presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Clay and Winfield Scott for the presidential nomination. For its vice-presidential nominee the convention chose Millard Fillmore , a prominent New York Whig who had chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and been
1836-419: A widely publicized September 1847 letter, Taylor stated his positions on several issues. He did not favor chartering another national bank, favored a low tariff , and believed that the president should play no role in making laws. Taylor did believe that the president could veto laws, but only when they were clearly unconstitutional. Many southerners believed that Taylor supported slavery and its expansion into
1944-509: A year later, the settlement was named Corpus Christi and was incorporated on September 9, 1852. The Battle of Corpus Christi was fought between August 12 and August 18, 1862, during the American Civil War . United States Navy forces blockading Texas fought a small land and sea engagement with Confederate forces in and around Corpus Christi Bay and bombarded the city. Union forces defeated Confederate States Navy ships operating in
2052-553: Is July 2, 2007, with 9.86 inches or 250 millimetres, while the wettest month on record is September 1967, with 20.33 in (516 mm), including four days with over 3 in (76 mm). Eight months with not even a trace of rainfall have happened, of which the most recent was May 1998, and 21 with merely a trace. The longest spell without measurable rainfall in Corpus Christi has been 55 days from June 23 to August 17 (inclusive), 1895, and from June 1 to July 25, 1915, while easily
2160-410: Is Tammy Embrey. Rebecca L. Huerta serves as the city secretary. Former City Manager Margie C. Rose was appointed in 2016 and served as the first African-American city manager in Corpus Christi. Rose resigned in 2018. Selman served as interim city manager in 2018 following Rose's resignation and until the appointment of Zanoni. Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)
2268-572: Is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat and largest city of Nueces County with portions extending into Aransas , Kleberg , and San Patricio counties. It is 130 miles (210 km) southeast of San Antonio and 208 miles (335 km) southwest of Houston . Its political boundaries encompass Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay . Its zoned boundaries include small land parcels or water inlets of three neighboring counties. The city's population
SECTION 20
#17328512107752376-673: Is a good spot for seabird watching. Popular spots include Blucher Park in downtown, the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge along Oso Bay, Hazel Bazemore County Park along the Nueces River in Calallen, and the South Texas Botanic Garden and Nature Center along the Oso Creek. The Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi, founded in 1957, promotes birding culture and protects habitat for birds in
2484-463: Is available in the region for duck , geese , coot , and teal . White-winged dove and mourning dove are also hunted on private leases. The brushland inland from Corpus Christi is also ideal for hunting feral hogs and white-tailed deer. Fishing is a popular recreational activity in Corpus Christi, including fishing from various piers around Corpus Christi Bay, wade fishing in Oso Bay, and fishing from
2592-636: Is greatest. The coolest month on record has been February 1905, with a mean of 45.6 °F (7.6 °C). In December 2004, the city experienced snowfall on Christmas Eve, the city's largest recorded snowstorm at 4.4 in (11 cm). The snow melted the day after Christmas. The city experienced light snowfall a second time, on December 8, 2017, nearly 13 years later. Between 1981 and 2010, Corpus Christi averaged 31.73 in (806 mm) of rainfall; however, long periods with very little rainfall are normal, and hurricanes can frequently produce daily falls of over 4 in (100 mm). The wettest day on record
2700-690: Is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. The official visitor and tourism information organization is the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of the most visited attractions are located on North Beach , where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS ; Lexington Museum on the Bay are located. USS Lexington was also part of the set for the 2001 film Pearl Harbor . Corpus Christi's museum district
2808-516: Is locally indurated with calcium carbonate ( caliche ) deposits. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey's storm surge eroded down to shale bedrock at a depth around 40 feet in Packery Channel, an artificial pass cut between North Padre and Mustang Islands. This feature has become a gathering place for game fish, and can be identified from the surface by its whirlpool-like current. The large, shallow bay makes Corpus Christi an ideal feeding place for birds, which
2916-774: Is located near USS Lexington . Some attractions located in the museum district are the Museum of Asian Cultures, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Institute for the Arts, and the Harbor Playhouse Theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in Texas. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which
3024-596: Is one reason why Corpus Christi is known as the "Bird Capital" of North America. Consequently, the San Diego Audubon Society has designated Corpus Christi as "America's birdiest place". According to the United States Census Bureau , Corpus Christi has a total area of 460.2 square miles (1,192.0 km ), of which 154.6 mi (400.5 km , 33.60%) are land and 305.6 mi (791.5 km , 66.40%) are covered by water. Since its founding,
3132-590: Is seated in Nueces County. The city council currently consists of these elected members: Peter Zanoni, former deputy city manager of San Antonio , was appointed city manager in May 2019. Upon appointment, Zanoni created two new positions in his leadership team and appointed Michael Rodriguez as his Chief of Staff and Constance Sanchez as Chief Financial Officer. The city manager works alongside Assistant City Manager Steven Viera. The city's intergovernmental relations director
3240-791: Is the United States Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is the original home of the headquarters of Whataburger , a fast-food restaurant operator and franchiser with 650 stores in 10 states and Mexico; the company relocated its headquarters to San Antonio in 2009. Other large employers include Christus Spohn Health System at 5,400 local employees, the Corpus Christi Independent School District with 5,178, H-E-B at 5,000, and Bay Ltd. at 2,100. Other companies based in Corpus Christi include Stripes Convenience Stores and AEP Texas . Corpus Christi became
3348-655: Is the 18,000-capacity American football stadium named Buccaneer Stadium. Year-round NCAA Division I collegiate athletics may be found at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Islanders compete in 14 men's and women's sports as a member of the Southland Conference . Corpus Christi is also home to the Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club , which is a member of the Texas Rugby Union , an affiliate of
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History - Misplaced Pages Continue
3456-486: Is the coolest time of year in the city, while June through September is the hottest. October is still hot, but not as hot as the summer months. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, and there is rarely ever snow or ice. The city's record high temperature is 109 °F (43 °C), on September 5, 2000, and the hottest month August 2012 with an average of 88.3 °F (31.3 °C). Average night-time winter lows in January,
3564-491: Is uncertain. Another possibility, one recognized by a historical marker, is Montebello, another Orange County estate. He was the third of five surviving sons in his family (a sixth died in infancy) and had three younger sisters. His mother was Sarah Dabney (née Strother) Taylor. His father, Richard Taylor , served as a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolution . Taylor was a descendant of Elder William Brewster ,
3672-440: Is under a council-manager municipal government. The elected city council is the primary authority in municipal matters such as enacting local legislation, determining policies, and appointing the city manager. Together, the city council and city manager execute laws and administer the municipal government. Organized by governmental sectors of city council, city management, city secretary, and several city departments, Corpus Christi
3780-403: The 1848 presidential election , despite his unclear political tenets and lack of interest in politics. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Winfield Scott and former senator Henry Clay for the party's nomination. He won the general election alongside New York politician Millard Fillmore , defeating Democratic Party nominees Lewis Cass and William Orlando Butler , as well as
3888-430: The 1919 Florida Keys hurricane and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The city also can see tornadoes , with an F2 tornado hitting the area on April 29, 1961 . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 316,239 people (2022 estimate), 117,210 households (2021 estimate), and 79,055 families residing in the city. At the 2010 census , 305,215 people resided in Corpus Christi, a 10.0% increase since 2000. According to
3996-424: The Battle of Monterrey . Defying orders, Taylor led his troops further south and, despite being severely outnumbered, dealt a crushing blow to Mexican forces under General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista . Taylor's troops were transferred to the command of Major General Winfield Scott , but Taylor retained his popularity. The Whig Party convinced a reluctant Taylor to lead its ticket in
4104-528: The Rio Grande in anticipation of a battle with Mexico over the disputed Texas–Mexico border . The Mexican–American War broke out in April 1846, and Taylor defeated Mexican troops commanded by General Mariano Arista at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma , driving Arista's troops out of Texas . Taylor then led his troops into Mexico, where they defeated Mexican troops commanded by Pedro de Ampudia at
4212-589: The Second Seminole War was underway when Taylor was directed to Florida. He built Fort Gardiner and Fort Basinger as supply depots and communication centers in support of Major General Thomas S. Jesup 's campaign to penetrate deep into Seminole territory with large forces and trap the Seminoles and their allies in order to force them to fight or surrender. He engaged in battle with the Seminole Indians in
4320-502: The US Navy , US Marine Corps , and US Coast Guard . Spaniard Alonso Alvarez de Pineda traveled in 1519 to this bay on the day of the religious Feast of Corpus Christi, so named the semitropical bay Corpus Christi. Cabeza de Vaca may have passed through Corpus Christi in the 1500s, but the first European to study the Nueces River and Corpus Christi Bay was Joaquín de Orobio y Basterr in 1747. A few years later, José de Escandón organized
4428-938: The Western Rugby Union and of the United States Rugby Football Union . In 2017, the United Soccer League expanded to Corpus Christi, forming Corpus Christi FC. Corpus Christi FC plays in the Mid-South Division of the USL League Two. In 2023, the American Indoor Football expanded to Corpus Christi, forming Corpus Christi Tritons. The city's location beside Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Laguna Madre provides opportunities for water sports and nature tourism. Waterfowl hunting
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History - Misplaced Pages Continue
4536-583: The 2010 census, 80.9% of Corpus Christi's population was White; 4.3% was African American; 1.8% Asian; 0.1% Pacific Islander; 10.4% of some other race; and 2.5% of two or more races . About 62.23% of Corpus Christi's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, and 33.3% of the population was non-Hispanic White , down from 56% in 1970. In 2000, the racial makeup was 71.62% White, 4.67% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 18.58% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 54.33% of
4644-591: The 2018 Youth Sailing World Championships , and in 2022, the J/24 World Championship . The Corpus Christi Skate Park opened on February 17, 2007. It is located in Cole Park on the shoreline of the Corpus Christi Bay near downtown. The 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m ) concrete park includes a skating bowl and a street course with stairs, railings, and flat surfaces. Being a coastal city, Corpus Christi
4752-448: The 290 electoral votes . In the popular vote, he took 47.3%, to Cass's 42.5% and Van Buren's 10.1%. Taylor ignored the Whig platform, as historian Michael F. Holt explains: Taylor was equally indifferent to programs Whigs had long considered vital. Publicly, he was artfully ambiguous, refusing to answer questions about his views on banking, the tariff, and internal improvements. Privately, he
4860-518: The Christian sacrament of Holy Communion. The name was given to the settlement and surrounding bay by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519, as he discovered the lush semitropical bay on the Western Christian feast day of Corpus Christi . Corpus Christi is home to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , one of two locations training primary student pilots and advanced multiengine pilots of
4968-603: The Christmas Day Battle of Lake Okeechobee , among the largest U.S.–Indian battles of the 19th century; as a result, he was promoted to brigadier general. In May 1838, Jesup stepped down and placed Taylor in command of all American troops in Florida, a position he held for two years—his reputation as a military leader was growing and he became known as "Old Rough and Ready." Taylor was criticized for using bloodhounds in order to track Seminole. After his long-requested relief
5076-521: The Coastal Bend region of Texas, with five sanctuaries owned or managed by the club within Corpus Christi. The club hosts field trips and public meetings monthly. In 1852, the City of Corpus Christi was incorporated. Texas' 31st Legislature chartered the city as a political and corporate municipal entity in 1909. By ordinance, the city possesses power to "fix, alter and extend its boundaries." Corpus Christi
5184-638: The Gulf of Mexico at Packery Channel or at Bob Hall Pier. The city has one of the highest average wind speeds of coastal cities in North America. This, combined with the Bay Front area located along Ocean Drive, makes the city an important destination for wind sports such as kite boarding , wind surfing , kite flying, wing foiling, and sailing. In 1990, Corpus Christi hosted the Windsurfing World Championships . In 2018, Corpus Christi hosted
5292-569: The Interior , so Taylor would be appointing that department's inaugural secretary. Thomas Ewing , who had previously served as a senator from Ohio and as Secretary of the Treasury under William Henry Harrison, accepted the patronage-rich position of Secretary of the Interior . For the position of Postmaster General , also a center of patronage, Taylor chose Congressman Jacob Collamer of Vermont. After Horace Binney refused appointment as Secretary of
5400-527: The Mexican War. He received three Congressional Gold Medals for his service in the Mexican-American War and remains the only person to have received the medal three times. Taylor remained at Monterrey until late November 1847, when he set sail for home. While he spent the following year in command of the Army's entire western division, his active military career was effectively over. In December he received
5508-524: The Mexicans to sell Alta California and New Mexico , but the Mexicans remained unwilling to part with so much territory. Polk sent an army under the command of Winfield Scott to besiege Veracruz , an important Mexican port city, while Taylor was ordered to remain near Monterrey. Many of Taylor's experienced soldiers were placed under Scott's command, leaving Taylor with a smaller and less effective force. Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna intercepted
SECTION 50
#17328512107755616-543: The Pharaoh Valley subdivision, the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge is known for seabird-watching. The nearby Pharaohs golf course also serves as a haven for coastal and migratory birds. Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island , home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably the Padre Island National Seashore . The city is also near King Ranch , one of
5724-520: The Rio Grande. Taylor was later praised for his humane treatment of the wounded Mexican soldiers before the prisoner exchange with Arista, giving them the same care as was given to American wounded. After tending to the wounded, he performed the last rites for the dead of both the American and Mexican soldiers killed during the battle. These victories made him a popular hero, and in May 1846 Taylor received
5832-676: The Sabine River frontier. By March 1822, Taylor had established Fort Jesup at the Shield's Spring site southwest of Natchitoches. That November (1822), Taylor was transferred to Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River in Louisiana , where he remained until February 1824. He spent the next few years on recruiting duty. In late 1826, he was called to Washington, D.C., for work on an Army committee to consolidate and improve military organization. In
5940-468: The Treasury, Taylor chose another prominent Philadelphian, William M. Meredith . George W. Crawford , a former governor of Georgia, accepted the position of Secretary of War , while Congressman William B. Preston of Virginia became Secretary of the Navy . Senator Reverdy Johnson of Maryland accepted appointment as Attorney General , and became one of the most influential members of Taylor's cabinet. Fillmore
6048-554: The U.S. Army in 1808 and made a name for himself as a captain in the War of 1812 . He climbed the ranks of the military, establishing military forts along the Mississippi River and entering the Black Hawk War as a colonel in 1832. His success in the Second Seminole War attracted national attention and earned him the nickname "Old Rough and Ready". In 1845, during the annexation of Texas , President James K. Polk dispatched Taylor to
6156-406: The Whigs, as former Democratic President Martin Van Buren broke from the party and led the anti-slavery Free Soil Party 's ticket. Van Buren won the support of many Democrats and Whigs who opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, but he took more votes from Democratic nominee Lewis Cass in the crucial state of New York. Nationally, Taylor defeated Cass and Van Buren, taking 163 of
6264-635: The annexation of the Republic of Texas , which had established independence in 1836, Taylor was sent in April 1844 to Fort Jesup in Louisiana, and ordered to guard against attempts by Mexico to reclaim the territory. More senior generals in the army might have taken this important command, such as Winfield Scott and Edmund P. Gaines . But both were known members of the Whig Party , and Taylor's apolitical reputation and friendly relations with Andrew Jackson made him
6372-410: The area, but were repulsed when they landed on the coast. In November 1873, seven Mexican shepherds were lynched by a mob near the city. The crime was never solved. The Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926, and the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941. In February 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was founded in Corpus Christi. This organization
6480-446: The bottom quartile of U.S. presidents, owing in part to his short term of office (16 months), though he has been described as "more a forgettable president than a failed one". Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784, on a plantation in Orange County, Virginia , to a prominent family of planters of English ancestry. His birthplace may have been Hare Forest Farm , the home of his maternal grandfather William Strother, but this
6588-552: The choice of President James K. Polk . Polk directed him to deploy into disputed territory in Texas, "on or near the Rio Grande " near Mexico. Taylor chose a spot at Corpus Christi , and his Army of Occupation encamped there until the following spring in anticipation of a Mexican attack. When Polk's attempts to negotiate with Mexico failed, Taylor's men advanced to the Rio Grande in March 1846, and war appeared imminent. Violence broke out several weeks later, when Mexican forces attacked some of Captain Seth B. Thornton's men north of
SECTION 60
#17328512107756696-400: The city has annexed nearby lands and waters for growth and development purposes. The original area encompassed several city blocks in present-day downtown Corpus Christi with the majority of city expansion occurring in the 20th century. Corpus Christi has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa), with hot and humid summers, and short mild winters. The period from November through February
6804-450: The city was affected by Hurricane Harvey , then by Hurricane Hanna in 2020. Rough surf from Hurricane Laura caused one death and one injury at a beach in the city in late August 2020, just a month after Hanna. Cisneros v. Corpus Christi Independent School District (1970) was the first case to extend the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision (1954) to Mexican Americans. It recognized them as
6912-424: The coldest month, are a little less than 50 °F (10 °C) and its record low is 11 °F (−12 °C) on February 12, 1899. The coldest maximum of 26 °F (−3 °C) occurred on five occasions, the most recent being on January 30, 1951. Winter and early spring are generally dry, and average monthly precipitation is highest in September, when the threat from hurricanes and other tropical weather systems
7020-496: The convention's outcome, because he had instructed his local post office not to deliver his mail to avoid postage fees. Taylor continued to minimize his role in the campaign, preferring not to directly meet with voters or correspond about his political views. He did little active campaigning, and may not have voted. His campaign was skillfully directed by Crittenden and bolstered by a late endorsement from Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. Democrats were even less unified than
7128-475: The courtship of his 17-year-old daughter Sarah Knox Taylor with Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America . He respected Davis but did not wish his daughter to become a military wife, as he knew it was a hard life for families. Davis and Sarah Taylor married in June 1835 (when she was 21), but she died three months later of malaria contracted on a visit to Davis's sister's home in St. Francisville, Louisiana . By 1837,
7236-400: The crucial seat of Secretary of State , but Crittenden insisted on serving out the governorship of Kentucky to which he had just been elected. Taylor settled on Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware, a close associate of Crittenden's. With Clayton's aid, Taylor chose the six remaining members of his cabinet. One of the incoming Congress's first actions would be to establish the Department of
7344-424: The denial of medical services based on race by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs . The 1919 Storm devastated the city, killing hundreds on September 14. Only three structures survived the storm on North Beach. To protect the city, the seawall was built. The city also suffered damage from Hurricane Celia in 1970 and Hurricane Allen in 1980, but little damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008. In 2017,
7452-438: The driest calendar year has been 1917, with a mere 5.38 in (137 mm). The two wettest calendar years have been 1888 with 48.16 in (1,223 mm) and 1991 with 48.07 in (1,221 mm), although from August 1967 to July 1968, 59.09 in (1,501 mm) fell, and for the 12 months ending January 1918, only 5.22 in (133 mm). Hurricanes seldom hit the city, but those which have were destructive, such as
7560-431: The first major city to offer citywide free wi-fi in April 2005 and to allow remote meter reading after a meter reader was attacked by a dog. In 2007, the network was purchased by Earthlink for $ 5.5 million, and stopped being a free service on May 31, 2007. Various sections of Corpus Christi maintain distinct senses of identity and community from the city proper, especially the Calallen and Flour Bluff areas. The city
7668-414: The forces of Tecumseh , a Shawnee chief . During the War of 1812 , in which U.S. forces battled the British Empire and its Indian allies, Taylor defended Fort Harrison in Indiana Territory from an Indian attack commanded by Tecumseh. The September 1812 battle was the American forces' first land victory of the war, for which Taylor received wide praise, as well as a brevet (temporary) promotion to
7776-460: The head of any sane person." After crossing the Rio Grande, in September Taylor inflicted heavy casualties upon the Mexicans at the Battle of Monterrey , and captured that city in three days, despite its impregnable repute. Taylor was criticized for signing a "liberal" truce rather than pressing for a large-scale surrender. Polk had hoped that the occupation of Northern Mexico would induce
7884-544: The last toehold of the U.S. Army in the upper Mississippi River Valley. Upon Howard's death a few weeks later, Taylor was ordered to abandon the fort and retreat to St. Louis. Reduced to the rank of captain when the war ended in 1815, he resigned from the army. He reentered it a year later after gaining a commission as a major. Taylor commanded Fort Howard at the Green Bay , Michigan Territory settlement for two years, then returned to Louisville and his family. In April 1819 he
7992-570: The many tasks facing the nation, but presented a governing style of deference to Congress and sectional compromise instead of assertive executive action. His speech also emphasized the importance of following President Washington's precedent in avoiding entangling alliances . During the period after his inauguration, Taylor made time to meet with numerous office-seekers and other ordinary citizens who desired his attention. He also attended an unusual number of funerals, including services for Polk and Dolley Madison . According to Eisenhower, Taylor coined
8100-406: The means at hand without parading his grievance before the public. No soldier could face either danger or responsibility more calmly than he. These are qualities more rarely found than genius or physical courage. General Taylor never made any great show or parade, either of uniform or retinue. In dress he was possibly too plain, rarely wearing anything in the field to indicate his rank, or even that he
8208-580: The meantime he acquired his first Louisiana plantation and decided to move with his family to a new home in Baton Rouge . In May 1828, Taylor was called back to action, commanding Fort Snelling in Michigan Territory (now Minnesota ) on the Upper Mississippi River for a year, and then nearby Fort Crawford for a year. After some time on furlough, spent expanding his landholdings, Taylor
8316-468: The museum district is a part, is home to skyscrapers such as One Shoreline Plaza , company offices, various shops, a popular center of marinas, and Mirador de la Flor . Downtown also is home of K Space Contemporary, a nonprofit art organization promoting and presenting local, regional, and national contemporary art. The Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center , also located in the city, hosts gardening programs from time to time. On Oso Bay near
8424-494: The museum opened in May 1990 to house the Shipwreck! exhibition. This Texas museum-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 27°48′37″N 97°23′42″W / 27.81028°N 97.39500°W / 27.81028; -97.39500 Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi ( / ˌ k ɔːr p ə s ˈ k r ɪ s t i / KOR -pəs KRIS -tee ; Latin for ' Body of Christ ')
8532-453: The national political agenda and led to threats of secession from Southerners. Despite being a Southerner and a slaveholder himself, Taylor did not push for the expansion of slavery, and sought sectional harmony above all other concerns. To avoid the issue of slavery, he urged settlers in New Mexico and California to bypass the territorial stage and draft constitutions for statehood , setting
8640-626: The new territory absorbed from Mexico, and some were angered when Taylor suggested that if elected president he would not veto the Wilmot Proviso , which proposed against such an expansion. This position did not enhance his support from activist antislavery elements in the Northern United States , as they wanted Taylor to speak out strongly in support of the Proviso, not simply fail to veto it. Most abolitionists did not support Taylor, since he
8748-442: The oil and petrochemicals industry. In 2005, the port was ranked as the 47th-largest in the world by cargo tonnage. Corpus Christi is home to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, providing 6,200 civilian jobs to the local economy, making it the single largest employer in the city. Corpus Christi Army Depot , located on NAS Corpus Christi, is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world. Additionally located on NAS Corpus Christi
8856-457: The population. The majority of the population is employed in the services, wholesale and retail trades, and government sectors. Corpus Christi has an unemployment rate of 4.5% as of July 2019. The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the fifth-largest U.S. port and deepest inshore port on the Gulf of Mexico , handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Much of the local economy is driven by tourism and
8964-688: The previous autumn in Louisville. "Peggy" Smith came from a prominent family of Maryland planters—her father was Major Walter Smith, who had served in the Revolutionary War. The couple had six children: After serving briefly in the Kentucky militia in 1806, Taylor joined the U.S. Army on May 3, 1808; receiving a commission from President Thomas Jefferson as a first lieutenant of the Kentuckian Seventh Infantry Regiment . He
9072-528: The rank of major. According to historian John Eisenhower , this was the first brevet awarded in U.S. history. Later that year, Taylor joined General Samuel Hopkins as an aide on two expeditions—one into the Illinois Territory and one to the Tippecanoe battle site, where they were forced to retreat in the Battle of Wild Cat Creek . Taylor moved his family to Fort Knox after the violence subsided. In
9180-505: The river. Learning of the Thornton Affair , Polk told Congress in May that a war between Mexico and the U.S. had begun. That same month, Taylor commanded American forces at the Battle of Palo Alto and the nearby Battle of Resaca de la Palma . Though greatly outnumbered, he defeated the Mexican " Army of the North " commanded by General Mariano Arista , and forced the troops back across
9288-487: The school board also lacked a majority-to-minority busing system. In 2012, Corpus Christi was ranked as the second-least literate city in the U.S. in a study by Central Connecticut State University. Corpus Christi is situated on fluvial deposits that are of Holocene — Pleistocene age. Although no solidified rock occurs naturally at the surface, the Deweyville Formation of sand , silt , clay , and gravel ,
9396-594: The spring of 1814, Taylor was called back into action under Brigadier General Benjamin Howard , and after Howard fell sick, Taylor led a 430-man expedition from St. Louis , up the Mississippi River. In the Battle of Credit Island , Taylor defeated Indian forces, but retreated after the Indians were joined by their British allies. That October he supervised the construction of Fort Johnson near present-day Warsaw, Illinois ,
9504-605: The stage for the Compromise of 1850 . Taylor died suddenly of a stomach disease on July 9, 1850, with his administration having accomplished little aside from the ratification of the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and having made no progress on the most divisive issue in Congress and the nation: slavery . Vice President Fillmore assumed the presidency and served the remainder of his term. Historians and scholars have ranked Taylor in
9612-424: The station" of president. Taylor spent the next week meeting with political elites, some of whom were unimpressed with his appearance and demeanor. With less than two weeks until his inauguration, he met with Clayton and hastily finalized his cabinet. Taylor's term as president began on Sunday, March 4, but his inauguration was not held until the next day out of religious concerns. His inauguration speech discussed
9720-545: The westward migration and settled near future Louisville, Kentucky , on the Ohio River . Taylor grew up in a small woodland cabin until, with increased prosperity, his family moved to a brick house. As a child, he lived in a battleground of the American Indian Wars , later claiming that he had seen Native Americans abduct and scalp his classmates while they were walking down the road together. Louisville's rapid growth
9828-846: The world's largest ranches, upon which the movie Giant was based. Although Corpus Christi has no teams in any of the four major sports leagues of the NFL , NBA , MLB , or NHL , it does have several sports offerings. The city is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League and the Corpus Christi Hooks , of the Texas League , and the AA affiliate of the Houston Astros . The largest venue in Corpus Christi
9936-653: Was 316,239 in 2022, making it the eighth-most populous city in Texas. The Corpus Christi metropolitan area had an estimated population of 442,600. It is also the hub of the six-county Corpus Christi-Kingsville Combined Statistical Area , with a 2013 estimated population of 516,793. The Port of Corpus Christi is the fifth-largest in the United States. The region is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport . The city's name means body of Christ in Ecclesiastical Latin , in reference to
10044-406: Was a boon for Taylor's father, who by the start of the 19th century had acquired 10,000 acres (40 km ) throughout Kentucky , as well as 26 slaves to cultivate the most developed portion of his holdings. Taylor's formal education was sporadic because Kentucky's education system was just taking shape during his formative years. Taylor's mother taught him to read and write, and he later attended
10152-483: Was a slave-owner. In February 1848, Taylor again announced that he would not accept either party's presidential nomination. His reluctance to identify himself as a Whig nearly cost him the party's presidential nomination, but Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky and other supporters finally convinced Taylor to declare himself a Whig. Though Clay retained a strong following among the Whigs, Whig leaders like William H. Seward and Abraham Lincoln were eager to support
10260-543: Was also a firm American nationalist , and due to his experience of seeing many people die as a result of warfare, believed that secession was a bad way to resolve national problems. Well before the American victory at Buena Vista, political clubs formed that supported Taylor for president. His support was drawn from an unusually broad assortment of political bands, including Whigs and Democrats, Northerners and Southerners, allies and opponents of national leaders such as Polk and Henry Clay. By late 1846, Taylor's opposition to
10368-591: Was among the new officers Congress commissioned in response to the Chesapeake–Leopard affair , in which the crew of a British Royal Navy warship had boarded a United States Navy frigate, sparking calls for war. Taylor spent much of 1809 in the dilapidated camps of New Orleans and nearby Terre aux Boeufs , in the Territory of Orleans . Under James Wilkinson 's command, the soldiers at Terre aux Boeufs suffered greatly from disease and lack of supplies, and Taylor
10476-606: Was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States , serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army , rising to the rank of major general and becoming a national hero for his victories in the Mexican–American War . As a result, he won election to the White House despite his vague political beliefs. His top priority as president
10584-478: Was an officer; but he was known to every soldier in his army, and was respected by all. Note - Major General Taylor resigned his commission in the U.S. Army on January 31, 1849, shortly before he became president. In his capacity as a career officer, Taylor had never publicly revealed his political beliefs before 1848 nor voted before that time. He was apolitical and had a negative opinion of most politicians. He thought of himself as an independent , believing in
10692-531: Was called to the Indiana Territory , where he assumed control of Fort Knox after the commandant fled. In a few weeks, he was able to restore order in the garrison, for which he was lauded by Governor William Henry Harrison . Taylor was temporarily called to Washington, D.C. , to testify for Wilkinson as a witness in a court-martial , and so did not take part in the November 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe against
10800-580: Was created to battle racial discrimination against Hispanic people in the United States. Since its founding, LULAC has grown and now has a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. In March 1949, the American GI Forum (AGIF) was founded in Corpus Christi. Currently, AGIF focuses on veteran's issues, education, and civil-rights issues. This organization was founded after concerns over the segregation of Mexican-American veterans from other veterans groups and
10908-646: Was given an extended leave, returning to Louisville to recover. Taylor was promoted to captain in November 1810. His army duties were limited at this time, and he attended to his personal finances. Over the next several years, he began to purchase a good deal of bank stock in Louisville. He also bought a plantation in Louisville, as well as the Cypress Grove Plantation in Jefferson County , Mississippi Territory . These acquisitions included slaves, rising in number to more than 200. In July 1811 he
11016-699: Was granted, Taylor spent a comfortable year touring the nation with his family and meeting with military leaders. During this period, he began to be interested in politics and corresponded with President William Henry Harrison . He was made commander of the Second Department of the Army's Western Division in May 1841. The sizable territory ran from the Mississippi River westward, south of the 37th parallel north . Stationed in Arkansas , Taylor enjoyed several uneventful years, spending as much time attending to his land speculation as to military matters. In anticipation of
11124-399: Was inclined to do the best he could with the means given to him. He felt his responsibility as going no further. If he had thought that he was sent to perform an impossibility with the means given him, he would probably have informed the authorities of his opinion and left them to determine what should be done. If the judgment was against him he would have gone on and done the best he could with
11232-417: Was more forthright. The idea of a national bank "is dead, and will not be revived in my time." In the future the tariff "will be increased only for revenue"; in other words, Whig hopes of restoring the protective tariff of 1842 were vain. There would never again be surplus federal funds from public land sales to distribute to the states, and internal improvements "will go on in spite of presidential vetoes." In
11340-469: Was not in favor with Taylor, and was largely sidelined throughout Taylor's presidency. Taylor began his trek to Washington in late January, a journey rife with bad weather, delays, injuries, sickness—and an abduction by a family friend. Taylor finally arrived in the nation's capital on February 24 and soon met with the outgoing President Polk. Polk held a low opinion of Taylor, privately deeming him "without political information" and "wholly unqualified for
11448-496: Was promoted to colonel of the 1st Infantry Regiment in April 1832, when the Black Hawk War was beginning in the West. Taylor campaigned under General Henry Atkinson to pursue and later defend against Chief Black Hawk 's forces throughout the summer. The end of the war in August 1832 signaled the final Indian resistance to U.S. expansion in the area. During this period, Taylor opposed
11556-562: Was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and dined with President James Monroe and General Andrew Jackson . In late 1820, Taylor took the 7th Infantry to Natchitoches , Louisiana , on the Red River . He subsequently established Fort Selden at the confluence of the Sulphur River and the Red River. On the orders of General Edmund P. Gaines , he later found a new post more convenient to
11664-454: Was to preserve the Union. He died 16 months into his term from a stomach disease . Taylor had the third-shortest presidential term in U.S. history. Taylor was born into a prominent family of plantation owners who moved westward from Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky , in his youth. He was the last president born before the adoption of the Constitution . He was commissioned as an officer in
#774225