http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft See pictures from the life and presidency of William H. Taft. en Copyright 2013, History.com Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-18T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo1 William H. Taft was born on September 15, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo2 Taft was born into a politically active family. His father had served as President Ulysses S. Grant's secretary of war. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo3 Helen Herron and William Howard Taft were married in 1886. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo4 Helen and William had three children: Robert, Helen, and Charles. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo5 In 1900, Taft was appointed governor of the Philippines by President William McKinley. He then served as secretary of war under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1904 to 1908. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo6 A Progressive Republican, Taft was a pacifist compared to many of his imperialist contemporaries; he advocated multilateral, international efforts to solve conflicts between nations. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo7 From the time he was elected the nation's 27th president in 1909, Taft continued Theodore Roosevelt's policy of busting monopolies in the steel and railroad industries. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo8 Taft created the first federal Department of Labor to promote the welfare of America's workers. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo9 President Taft speaking at Manassas Court House--Governor William H. Mann to Taft's right, November 10, 1911 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo10 Taft led a split Republican Party (with Roosevelt claiming the progressives) for reelection, but lost to Woodrow Wilson. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo11 After retiring from the presidency, Taft became the first and only former president to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court, a position he held for nine years after being appointed by President Warren Harding in 1921. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo12 As chief justice, Taft gave the oath of office to Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover at their inaugurations in 1923 and 1929, respectively. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo13 Health complications led to Taft's resignation as chief justice in February 1930; he died a month later, on March 3, from heart failure. http://www.history.com/photos/william-h-taft/photo13