James Knox Polk (1795-1849)
 James Knox Polk |
James Knox Polk
was the 11th President of the United States of America.
He was born on November 2,
1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to Samuel Polk
and Jane Knox Polk. Polk
graduated from the University of North
Carolina in 1818 and in 1824 he married Sarah
Childress (1803-1891). They had no children. Polk worked as a lawyer and joined the Democratic party. He became a Member for Tennessee in the House of Representatives 1823-25; a Member of U.S. House of Representatives 1825-39; Speaker of the House 1835-39 and Governor of Tennessee from 1839-41. Polk was President of the United States from March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1849 and was affectionately known as 'Young Hickory'. Polk was a Presbyterian a week but was baptised a Methodist a week before he died on June 15, 1849 in Nashville, Tennessee. Polk's nomination for the Presidency was the first to use the telegraph. Gaslights were installed in the White House while Polk was a resident and the first annual White House Thanksgiving dinner was hosted by Sarah Polk who was a devout Presbyterian and banned dancing, card-playing and alcoholic beverages in the White House. © Internet Biographies James K. Polk -- from The Presidents of the United States of America compiled by the White House. |