James K. Polk

US President

1795 – 1849

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Who was James K. Polk?

James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States. Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor of Tennessee. Polk was the surprise candidate for president in 1844, defeating Henry Clay of the rival Whig Party by promising to invade and annex Texas. Polk was a leader of Jacksonian Democracy during the Second Party System.

Polk was the last strong pre–Civil War president, and he is the earliest of whom there are surviving photographs taken during a term in office. He is noted for his foreign policy successes. He threatened war with Britain over the issue of which nation owned the Oregon Country, then backed away and split the ownership of the region with Britain. When Mexico rejected American annexation of Texas, Polk led the nation to a sweeping victory in the Mexican-American War, which gave the United States most of its present Southwest. He secured passage of the Walker tariff of 1846, which had low rates that pleased his native South, and he established a treasury system that lasted until 1913.

Famous Quotes:

  • The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the bonds of peace and union this great and increasing family of free and independent States, will be the chart by which I shall be directed.
  • All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection.
  • No union exists between church and state, and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.
  • It is confidently believed that our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits...

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Born
Nov 2, 1795
Pineville
Also known as
  • James Knox Polk
  • James Polk
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Religion
  • Methodism
  • Presbyterianism
Ethnicity
  • Scottish American
  • Scotch-Irish American
  • White people
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    (1816/01 - 1818/05)
Lived in
  • North Carolina
Died
Jun 15, 1849
Nashville
Resting place
Tennessee State Capitol

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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"James K. Polk." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/james_k_polk>.

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