“I intend to be myself President of the U.S.”
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James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. A protégé of Andrew Jackson and a member of the Democratic Party, he was an advocate of American expansionism and Jacksonian democracy. Polk saw Texas join the Union in his first year in office, one of the precipitating causes that soon led the U.S. into the Mexican–American War. The settlement of that war expa…
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politics · President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 · politician · lawyer · statesperson · planter class · governor · jurist · also James K. Polk, James Polk, J. Polk, J. K. Polk, President Polk, James Knox Polk
Born 2 November 1795 · Died 15 June 1849 · Q11891
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2026· 2 entries
The Daily Tar Heel: Possible closure of James K. Polk birthplace criticized
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2025· 1 entry
Dollars ), as well as securing Mexico's agreement to a Rio Grande border
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1948· 1 entry
Polk ranked tenth in Arthur M
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1893· 1 entry
The bodies of James and Sarah Polk were relocated to their resting place on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville
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1865· 1 entry
By the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States
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1860· 2 entries
When the widow sold a half-share in many of her slaves
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Sarah Polk had given up the sole power to free them, and it is unlikely that her new partner, having paid $28,500 (~$809,090 in 2024) for a half-interest in the plantation and its slaves, would have allowed the laborers
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1851· 1 entry
But Grier served until 1870 and in the slavery case of Dred Scott v
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1849· 6 entries
Died 1849-06-15.
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The last day of the congressional session and his final full day in office, he feared that an internal improvements bill would pass Congress, and he brought with him a draft veto message
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“Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family.”
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“Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our Government.”
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And returned to Tennessee, where he died of cholera soon afterward
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“The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government.”
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1848· 3 entries
Trist and the Mexican delegation signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
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And in the long run it facilitated the Panama Canal, built in the early 20th century
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Polk signed a bill to establish the Territory of Oregon and prohibit slavery in it
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1847· 1 entry
Passed another internal improvements bill; he pocket vetoed it and sent Congress a full veto message when it met in December
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1846· 3 entries
When Bancroft, who wanted a diplomatic posting, became U
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To provide $500,000 to improve port facilities, but Polk vetoed it
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Through an agent, aged roughly between 12 and 17
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1845· 6 entries
Polk, at 49, became the youngest president to that point
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Career landmark: President of the United States (1845–1849).
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“No President who performs his duty faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than intrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great.”
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And the rising spirit of expansionism in the U
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Polk began preparations for a potential war, sending an army there, led by Brigadier General Zachary Taylor
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Polk, fearful of French or British intervention, had sent Lieutenant Archibald H
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1844· 3 entries
And explained to his visitor that only an expansionist from the South or Southwest could be elected—and, in his view, Polk had the best chance
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Career landmark: President-elect of the United States (1844–1845).
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Prepared to follow up, he found that many Americans desired the entire territory, which extended north to 54 degrees, 40 minutes north latitude
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1843· 1 entry
But though the new governor took less of a joking tone, it made little difference to the outcome, as Polk was beaten again, this time by 3,833 votes
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1841· 1 entry
Left the presidency to Vice President John Tyler, who soon broke with the Whigs
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1839· 2 entries
Career landmark: Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841).
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Bought eight slaves from his brother William at a cost of $5,600 (~$160,431 in 2024)
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1835· 3 entries
Career landmark: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1835–1839).
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The only person to serve both as Speaker and U
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The Democrats had lost the governorship of Tennessee for the first time in their history, and Polk decided to return home to help the party
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1833· 2 entries
Resulted in Polk replacing him with Ephraim Beanland, who tightened discipline and increased work
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Career landmark: United States representative (1833–1839).
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1832· 1 entry
But many in the state disliked the destruction of the Second Bank, or were unwilling to support Van Buren
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1831· 2 entries
Polk purchased five more, mostly buying them in Kentucky, and expending $1,870 (~$64,641 in 2024); the youngest had a recorded age of 11
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Became an absentee cotton planter, sending enslaved people to clear plantation land that his father had left him near Somerville, Tennessee
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1828· 1 entry
Polk was an advisor on his campaign
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1827· 1 entry
And continued to oppose the Adams administration
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1826· 1 entry
In which he said that the Electoral College should be abolished and that the president should be elected by popular vote
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1825· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1825–1833).
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1823· 3 entries
And then to the United States House of Representatives in 1825, becoming a strong supporter of Jackson
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Career landmark: member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1823–1825).
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(until 1913, legislators, not the people, elected senators), Jackson's name was placed in nomination
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1821· 1 entry
Without opposition, and continued to serve until 1822
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1819· 1 entry
Was elected clerk of the Tennessee State Senate, which then sat in Murfreesboro and to which Grundy had been elected
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1803· 1 entry
Ezekiel Polk led four of his adult children and their families to the Duck River area in what became Maury County, Tennessee; Samuel Polk and his family followed in 1806
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1795· 1 entry
Born 1795-11-02.
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