Who is James K Polk?
See all videos for this article James K. Polk, in full James Knox Polk, (born November 2, 1795, Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, U.S.—died June 15, 1849, Nashville, Tennessee), 11th president of the United States (1845–49).
Was James K Polk a dark horse candidate for President?
James K. Polk. He was a dark horse candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1844; he entered his party’s convention as a potential nominee for vice president, but emerged as a compromise to head the ticket when no presidential candidate could secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
Where was President Polk’s grandfather born?
President Polk’s grandfather James likely was born in North Carolina. John was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Jean was born in Coleraine, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the daughter of Jean Sinclair. President Polk’s maternal grandmother was named Lydia Gillespie (the daughter of Thomas Gillespie and Naomi).
What was Polk’s early life and career like?
Early life and career. Polk was the eldest child of Samuel and Jane Knox Polk. At age 11 he moved with his family to Tennessee, where his father operated a prosperous farm in Maury county.
What was James K Polk’s Dark Horse?
Often referred to as the first “dark horse,” James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States from 1845 to 1849, the last strong President until the Civil War. Finally, the British settled for the 49th parallel, except for the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The treaty was signed in 1846.
Where did James K Polk live in Tennessee?
The Death of James K. Polk – James K. Polk Museum. Columbia, TN After leaving Washington at the end of his term. James and Sarah traveled south to New Orleans and traveled up the Mississippi River into Tennessee. After paying a visit to the president’s mother in Columbia, they ventured to their newly renovated home in downtown Nashville.
What did James A Polk do in the Mexican American War?
Polk also led the nation into the Mexican-American War (1846-48), in which the United States acquired California and much of the present-day Southwest. Polk kept his campaign promise to be a one-term president and did not seek reelection. Soon after leaving the White House, he died at age 53.
What did Samuel and Ezekiel Polk have in common with James?
James learned from the political talk around the dinner table; both Samuel and Ezekiel were strong supporters of President Thomas Jefferson and opponents of the Federalist Party. Polk suffered from frail health as a child, a particular disadvantage in a frontier society.
What was Polk’s position on expansion?
Polk, however, publicly asserted that Texas should be “re-annexed” and all of Oregon “re-occupied.” The aged Jackson, correctly sensing that the people favored expansion, urged the choice of a candidate committed to the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” This view prevailed at the Democratic Convention, where Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot.