James K. Polk

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James Knox Polk 11th President of the United States (March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1849) Nickname: “Young Hickory” Born: November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Died: June 15, 1849, in Nashville, Tennessee

Father: Samuel Polk Mother: Jane Knox Polk Married: Sarah Childress Polk (1803-1891), on January 1, 1824 Children: None Religion: Presbyterian Education: Graduated from the University of North Carolina (1818) Occupation: Lawyer Political Party: Democrat Other Government Positions:

• Member of Tennessee House of Representatives, 1823-25
• Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1825-39
• Speaker of the House, 1835-39
• Governor of Tennessee, 1839-41

Presidential Salary: $25,000/year

Vice President: George M. Dallas (1845-1849) Cabinet:

Secretary of State

James Buchanan (1845-1849)

Secretary of the Treasury

Robert J. Walker (1845-1849)

Secretary of War

William L. Marcy (1845-1849)

Attorney General

John Y. Mason (1845-46)

Nathan Clifford (1846-48)

Isaac Toucey (1848-49)

Postmaster General

Cave Johnson (1845-1849)

Secretary of the Navy

George Bancroft (1845-46)

John Y. Mason (1846-49)

Supreme Court Appointments:

Associate Justice

Levi Woodbury (1845-51)

Robert Cooper Grier (1846-70)

Notable Events:

• 1845
  • The Irish Potato Famine strikes, triggering mass migration to America.
  • The term “Manifest Destiny” is used for the first time.
  • The Naval academy is established at Annapolis.
  • Texas becomes the 28th state to join the Union.

• 1846
  • The Mormon migration to Utah begins, led by Brigham Young.
  • The US goes to war with Mexico.
  • California becomes an independent country for 25 days after the Bear Flag Revolt.
  • A large crack in the Liberty Bell proves too large to permit the bell to be rung any more.
  • Dispute with Britain over the Oregon Territory settled. Both nations get a part of the territory.
  • The Independent Treasury Law is signed.
  • The Smithsonian Institution is established by Congress.
  • Iowa joins the Union as the 29th state.
• 1847
  • The US declares victory in the Mexican-American War.
  • Mexico City is captured by US forces under General Winfield Scott.
• 1848
  • Treaty of 1848 with Mexico gave the U.S. control over California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
  • Gold discovered in California in December.
  • Wisconsin joins the Union.
  • The first women’s rights convention in the US is held at Seneca Falls.

Internet Biographies:

James K. Polk — from The Presidents of the United States of America

Compiled by the White House.

James K. Polk — from American Presidents: Life Portraits — C-SPAN

Biographical information, trivia, key events, video, and other reference materials. Website created to accompany C-SPAN’s 20th Anniversary Television Series, American Presidents: Life Portraits.

James Polk — from U.S. Presidents

From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.

Historical Documents:

Inaugural Address (1845)

Other Internet Resources:

People in THE WEST

The documentary THE WEST by Ken Burns and Stephen Ives discusses Polk’s role in expanding the U.S. borders westward.

Points of Interest:

• A week before he died, Polk was baptized a Methodist.
• Gaslights were installed in the White House while Polk was a resident.
• Polk survived a gallstone operation at age 17 without anesthesia or antiseptics. Those medical practices were not used at the time.
• The first annual White House Thanksgiving dinner was hosted by Sarah Polk.
• Sarah Polk was a devout Presbyterian. She banned dancing, card-playing and alcoholic beverages in the White House.
• News of Polk’s nomination was widely disseminated using the telegraph. The first time this had been done.

Previous President: John Tyler | Next President: Zachary Taylor

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