James K. Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on November 2, 1795. He was the oldest of ten children born to Samuel and Jane Knox Polk. Polk’s family moved to Duck River, Tennessee in 1806. In Duck River Samuel Plok became a successful frontier farmer. Sadly, James never developed the physical strength to farm. Instead his parents trained his mind. They provided tutors for him and sent him to several preparatory schools. In 1815 he enterd the university of North Carolina, graduating in 1818 with honers in mathematics and in classics.

Polk then studied law and in 1820 was admitted to the bar. In Columbia, Tennessee he begin his practice and soon became well-known lawyer. He was elected to state legislature in 1823. A young politicians he became friends with Tennessee’s United States Senator, Andrew Jackson.

Polk was elected to the United States house of represntives in 1825. There he Championed with Andrew Jackson. In 1839 he became the Governor of Tennessee. He stayed Governor intill 1841.

On January 1, 1824, Polk married Sarah Childress, a daughter of a prosperous family from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

His success proved more a personal than a party. In 1840 Tennessee casts its votes for the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison. Plok ran again for election but suffered defeat. In the same year (1841) President Harrison died. In put Vice president John Tyler in the White House. This Immeadty raised the question of who would become president in 1844.

Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed to take charge of the Whig Party and became its candidate. Martin Van Buren, a former President was expected to be the Democratic candidate.

On March 6, 1845, Mexico broke relations with the United States in protest against the annexation of Texas. Polk tried to persuade the government of Presidents Jose Herrera to accept the Rio Grande. Senator John Slidell was sent by Polk to offer Mexico 25,000,000 plus 3,000,000 in claims for the territory. He had failed. Polk decided to recommend war. In May 1846 Polk, learned that Mexican troops had attacked General Zachary Taylor’s Forces along the Rio Grande. Soon he called for war. Congress declared war on may 13 1846. The fight lasted a year and a half. In September, 1847, General Winfield Scott Captured Mexico City. The Treaty of Guadeloupe Aidalog, ending the war, was ratified by the Senate on March 10, 1848. Polk died on June 15, 1849, three months after leaving the office. He was buried at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. But later in 1893 his body was moved to State Capitol Grounds at Nashville.