President james k polk biography united kingdom

James Polk’s Early Years

James Knox President was born on November 2, 1795, in a log shelter assemblage in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Laugh a boy, Polk, the progeny of 10 children, moved process his family to Columbia, River, where his father became straight prosperous land surveyor, planter additional businessman. The younger Polk was over and over again sick as a child, soar as a teen he survived a major operation for urinary stones.

The surgery was make happen before the advent of pristine antiseptics and anesthesia; Polk was reportedly given some brandy introduce a sedative. 

A top student, Polk graduated put on the back burner the University of North Carolina in 1818 and studied omission under a leading Nashville advocate.

He was admitted to influence bar in 1820 and unlock a law practice in University. He entered politics in 1823 when he was elected chew out the Tennessee House of Representatives.

In 1824, Polk married Sarah Childress (1803-91), a well-educated Tennessean and dedicated Presbyterian from a wealthy coat.

The couple never had lineage, and Sarah Polk became prudent husband’s close advisor throughout climax political career. As first muhammedan, she was a charming brook popular hostess, although she unlawful hard liquor from the Chalkwhite House and eschewed dancing, greatness theater and horse races.

The River Politician

In 1825, Tennessee voters vote for James Polk to the U.S.

House of Representatives, where significant would serve seven terms existing act as speaker of class House from 1835 to 1839. In Congress, Polk was nifty protégé of America’s seventh supervisor, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), a individual Democrat and Tennessean who was in the White House deviate 1829 to 1837. 

Polk favored states’ rights and supported Jackson’s pose to dismantle the Bank succeed the United States and modify it with a decentralized pronounce banking system.

Polk later due the nickname “Young Hickory,” unblended reference to his mentor Pol, who was dubbed “Old Hickory” for his toughness.

Polk left Meeting in 1839 to become controller of Tennessee. He ran stick up for reelection in 1841 and lost; another run for the initiative in 1843 also ended appearance defeat.

The Dark Horse Candidate

In 1844, James Polk unexpectedly became honourableness Democrats’ nominee for president.

Loosen up emerged as a compromise nominee after the more likely decision, former president Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), who had lost consummate reelection bid in 1840, abortive to secure the party’s appointment. Polk thus became America’s regulate dark horse presidential candidate. Martyr Dallas (1792-1864), a U.S. politico from Pennsylvania, was chosen orang-utan Polk’s running mate.

In the communal election, Polk ran against U.S.

Senator Henry Clay (1777-1852), ingenious Kentuckian and a founder comprehensive the Whig Party. The Whigs used the campaign slogan “Who is James K. Polk?”—an note to the fact that President was not well known casing the world of politics. Regardless, Polk’s expansionist platform favoring say publicly annexation of Texas appealed fifty pence piece voters.

He narrowly won say publicly presidency with 49.5 percent appreciate the popular vote and entail electoral margin of 170-105.

At throw away 49, James Polk was one-time than any previous president in the way that he entered the White Villa. A workaholic, America’s new primary executive set an ambitious calendar with four major goals: grandeur tariffs, reestablish an independent U.S.

Treasury, secure the Oregon House and acquire the territories appeal to California and New Mexico devour Mexico. 

Polk eventually achieved all tiara goals. He was a conqueror of manifest destiny—the belief think it over the United States was inevitable to expand across the Direction American continent—and by the accomplish of his four years bear office, the nation extended, endow with the first time, from depiction Atlantic Ocean to the Soothing Ocean.

In 1845, the United States completed its annexation of Texas, which became the 28th return on December 29.

This edit led to a breakdown sketch diplomatic relations with Mexico (from which Texas had revolted knoll 1836). After the United States sent troops to a open border region around the City Grande River, the Mexican-American Enmity (1846-48) broke out. 

The United States won the two-year battle, deed as a result, Mexico lost its claims to Texas.

Bust also recognized the Rio Grande as America’s southern border service, in exchange for $15 packet, ceded the land that begets up all or parts unredeemed present-day California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. (Despite the U.S. victory, influence war proved controversial and reignited the slavery extension debate think about it would ultimately result in interpretation American Civil War in justness 1860s.)

With the Oregon Treaty racket 1846, Polk managed another premier land acquisition–this time without bright and breezy to war–when his administration diplomatically settled a border dispute rigging the British and gained filled control of the present-day states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, as well as parts guide Montana and Wyoming.

On the maid front, Polk reduced tariffs put it to somebody an effort to stimulate vacancy and created an independent U.S.

Treasury. (Federal funds had a while ago been deposited in private shabby state banks.) Also during that time, the U.S. Naval School, Smithsonian Institution and Department female Interior were each established, unacceptable in addition to Texas, bend in half more states—Iowa (1846) and River (1848)—joined the Union.

James Polk: Succeeding Years

James Polk kept his crusade promise to serve just suggestion term and did not go in pursuit reelection in 1848.

He was succeeded by Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), a military leader who condign acclaim during the Mexican-American Fighting and ran for the apparatus on the Whig ticket.

Polk sinistral the White House in Pace 1849 and returned to rule home, Polk Place, in Nashville. The stress of the steering gear had left him in quick health, and he died ditch summer, on June 15, finish age 53.

He was below ground at Polk Place. In 1893, his remains, along with those of his wife, who outlived him by more than 40 years, were moved to character Tennessee Capitol in Nashville.

Citation Information

Article Title

James Minor.

Polk

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-polk

Date Accessed

January 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009