Zachary Taylor Wood

Zachary Taylor Wood was born on November 27, 1860, in Annapolis Naval Academy, where his father, John Taylor Wood, was stationed as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. His father later served as a captain in the Confederate States Navy. Wood's great-grandfather was Zachary Taylor, who served as President of the United States. In 1865, following his family's evacuation from the United States via Cuba, his family relocated to Halifax. Subsequently, his family moved to Ontario.

He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, in 1882. In 1885, Wood served as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Militia with the 90th Winnipeg Battalion of Rifles, participating in the Battle of Batoche during the North-West Rebellion.

In the same year, Wood joined the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) as an inspector, working under Superintendent Sam Steele. He held the position of Assistant Commissioner starting in 1892 and also served as Acting Commissioner at times during his career.

In 1897, he was assigned to the Yukon. He became a member of the territorial council there in 1900. Wood was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1913. Due to declining health, he retired from the NWMP shortly before his death.

Zachary Taylor Wood died on January 15, 1915, in Asheville, North Carolina. He was buried at Cataraqui Cemetery in Kingston, Ontario.

His family included his younger brother, Lieutenant Charles Carroll Wood, who graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1896. Charles served with the British Army's Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) during the Second Boer War and died on November 11, 1899. He is memorialized on the Royal Military College Memorial Arch and was buried at West End Cemetery in Kimberley, South Africa.

In 1888, Zachary Taylor Wood married Frances Augusta Daly at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Napanee, Ontario. They had a son, Stuart Taylor Wood, born on October 17, 1889, in Napanee. Stuart later served as the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for thirteen years and was also designated a CMG.

Mount Wood in the Yukon was named in honor of Zachary Taylor Wood in 1998, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the RCMP. The mountain was originally named in 1900 by surveyor James J. McArthur to recognize Wood's contributions.