Prior to the battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War, Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna demanded Zachary Taylor’s surrender. Taylor firmly declined, giving rise to the motto, “General Taylor never surrenders.”

Lithographer Nathaniel Currier learned the printing trade as an apprentice at the Boston firm of William and John Pendleton, the first successful lithography firm in the United States. Currier moved to New York City with John Pendleton in the early 1830s and soon established his own firm there. Currier found success producing images of current events and making them available quickly and inexpensively. James Merritt Ives joined the firm in 1852 and became a partner in 1857.