Which president died suddenly in office of a stomach ailment?

The Sudden Passing of President Zachary Taylor

On July 9, 1850, the United States suffered a sudden tragedy with the death of its twelfth president, Zachary Taylor. Five days prior, during a scorching Fourth of July celebration, President Taylor consumed a large quantity of cherries and iced milk. Shortly after, he developed a severe gastrointestinal illness, which rapidly deteriorated his health despite the efforts of White House doctors.

Known as "Old Rough and Ready" for his military success during the Mexican-American War, Taylor had served barely sixteen months in office before his untimely passing. His sudden death fueled numerous historical rumors over the years, though medical historians primarily attribute his demise to severe gastroenteritis or cholera morbus, likely caused by contaminated food or water on that hot summer day.

Following his death, Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as president the very next day, taking leadership of a deeply divided nation during the contentious debates surrounding slavery and the Compromise of 1850.