JAMES K. POLK

Eleventh President,
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849

Franklin P. Rice, 1882:

JAMES KNOX POLK, the Eleventh President of the United States was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, November 2d, 1795, and removed with his father to Middle Tennessee in 1806.  He was educated in the University of North Carolina, studied law and soon took a high position at the bar.  He entered the Legislature of Tennessee in 1823; and was elected to Congress for seven successive terms from 1825, serving as Speaker from 1835 to 1839.  In 1840 he was Governor of Tennessee.  At the Democratic Convention of 1844 he was given the nomination which by right and precedent belonged to Martin Van Buren, and in the ensuing election was chosen President.  He died at Nashville, June 15th, 1849.

            President Polk’s talents were above the common order.  In Congress he was an animated speaker and ready debater; and during his administration, which was one of the most important in our history, he exhibited some elements of statesmanship, particularly in relation to financial and commercial affairs.  He was thoroughly loyal to the South, and involved the country in an aggressive war against Mexico to extend the power of the Slaveholders.  During his term of office the Oregon boundary dispute was settled; Texas and Wisconsin admitted as States; New Mexico and California acquired; and the Department of the Interior established.  His administration in general, might be contemplated with satisfaction had he not labored in a sectional interest, and stood as a representative of the Southern idea.

Henry W. Rugg, 1888:

LANGUAGE, in maintaining a continuity of existence, has merged within itself varied elements; the English tongue has assimilated words and phrases from all corners of the earth.  Many familiar names, common in America, are corruptions, referring back to the time of the Norman Conquest, or to the lands of the Celtic kings.  Whenever the sons of this new world can trace their ancestry through many generations, they may be sure that their name, perhaps in some different form, has crossed the ocean from its former European home, probably France or Great Britain.  The ancestors of James Polk were of Scoto-Irish origin; they bore the name of Pollok, easily contracted into Polk by the family that left Ireland and settled in America some time during the eighteenth century.  The father of the future President was a farmer, living in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, when James Knox Polk was born, November 2, 1795.

            There were ten children to be reared in this home, removed soon after the birth of the eldest son, James, to the region of the Duck river in Tennessee.  Samuel Polk, though a man of small resources, possessed the spirit of enterprise, combined with energy, in all his pursuits.  He actively engaged in the work of farming, occupying himself also with the duties of a surveyor, thus being able to comfortably provide for his large family, and, in later years, to amass a considerable fortune.  The son James gained experiences connected with both these occupations, learned to endure the hardships of journeys through the wilderness of that region, as well as to conform to the more prosaic discipline connected with a boy’s life on a farm.  He early developed a fondness for nature, was also interested in his studies, while from both parents he received lessons of industry, thrift and promptness, necessary requisites for success in life.

            The lad was a bright scholar, but not being physically strong, it was thought best that he should be fitted for some trade or business; accordingly he became a clerk, although having no liking for such occupation.  He was so unhappy during a few weeks’ trial of this kind of work, that his father decided to send him to Murfreesborough Academy, where he remained about two years, until prepared for the Sophomore class in college.  He entered the

 James K. Polk
by Ralph Eleasor Whiteside Earl, 1829

University of North Carolina, on Chapel Hill, receiving high honors when he graduated therefrom in the year 1818.

            When Mr. Polk left college his health was impaired, as a result the close attention he had given to his studies, rest and change being needed that he might gain physical strength.  After a brief period of leisure, he resumed his studies, this time those of law, under Mr. Felix Grundy of Nashville.  He was admitted to the bar in 1820, and shortly afterwards began the practice of his profession in Columbia.  At once success attended his efforts.  His abilities, his logical powers of reasoning, his methodical habits, helped him greatly in becoming an eminent lawyer; not more so, perhaps, than that gracious charm of manner, that winning personality, which made him popular among his associates in society and business circles.

            Mr. Polk’s entrance into politics dates from the year 1823, when he was chosen to represent his county in the state legislature.  He identified himself with the Republican party, and as a personal as well as a political friend of General Jackson, helped in the election of that distinguished man to the United States Senate.  In August, 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen to represent his district in Congress, to which position he was re-elected every succeeding two years until 1839.  He advocated the ideas of Jefferson and Jackson, being ranked as a democratic Republican of the strictest sect, holding persistently to his opinions throughout all party mutations.  He opposed the administration of President John Quincy Adams, while he ardently supported in Congress the policy of President Jackson during his terms of service.  Mr. Polk’s reputation and influence were undoubtedly great, by reason of his extraordinary energy, indomitable will, his powers of close application to whatever engaged his earnest attention.

            His ten years’ service in Congress fitted him for the elevated position of speaker, to which he was twice chosen by his associates, in the years 1835 – 7.  In this important station there was opportunity to display all the skill of politician and statesman.  Popular with his own party, Mr. Polk’s abilities were recognized by many of his opponents; and his decisions as speaker upon questions of parliamentary law, many of them complex and difficult, were uniformly sustained.

James K. Polk: “The People’s Candidate for President”
Hand-colored Lithograph by N. Currier, 1844

            In the year 1839, after fourteen years’ service in Congress, during which time Mr. Polk was never absent from the sittings of the House, except on a single occasion, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.  That same year he was elected governor of Tennessee; he served one term, but was defeated for re-election, and, on becoming a candidate, in 1843, again failed to secure the executive chair.  He now enjoyed for a little time the quiet home life in the family circle where he displayed so many of the charming characteristics of his nature.  He had married in his early manhood Miss Sarah Childers, of Tennessee, a woman of dignified personal appearance, who possessed much executive ability; was a notable housekeeper as well as an intelligent companion and admirable hostess.  There were no children born to this couple, and when they occupied the White House it offered few attractions for youthful visitors, though it afforded cheerful surroundings for many older guests.  Mr. Polk drew towards him numerous warm friends, for he possessed ready sympathies, had always a kind word of greeting, was courteous to everyone, betraying an honest interest in the well-being of his neighbors.

            These uneventful years of Mr. Polk’s life were followed by his nomination as a candidate for the presidency, Henry Clay being the opposing candidate.  Mr. Polk was elected by a majority of sixty-five electoral votes.  One of the main issues of the campaign was the annexation of Texas, a measure strongly advocated by Mr. Polk, and consummated by President Tyler just before the close of his presidential career.  The new administration found itself confronted with many and serious difficulties growing out of this measure, and war with Mexico soon ensued.  Mr. Polk felt the embarrassment of the situation, and much regretted the disruption of friendly relations with that country which occurred shortly after his inauguration.  As a strong advocate of the annexation of Texas, he did not hesitate to join issue with Mexico in the alternative presented.  He was in thorough accord with that section of the Democratic party which had done so much to bring about the result accomplished in the closing days of the administration of his immediate predecessor, and he was resolute to keep and defend the acquisition thus gained at all hazards.  President Polk was sustained in his war policy against Mexico by a large majority in Congress, the whole force of the United States being placed at his disposal to

James K. Polk
by George P. A. Healy, 1846

enable him to prosecute the war to a speedy and successful termination.

            In the Northern States the Mexican war was regarded with much disfavor, and the President lost popularity from this cause.  In the Southwestern States, however, a different feeling prevailed; volunteers came readily to the aid of General Taylor, who led an army of some ten thousand soldiers across the border, fought several battles and gained signal victories.  At a later date, General Scott, at the head of a victorious army, entered the capital and took possession of the city of Mexico.  This was on Sept. 14, 1847.  Negotiations for peace resulted in the “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,” by which Mexico ceded New Mexico and California to the United States and agreed that the Rio Grande river should be the boundary line between herself and Texas, thus giving up a vast territory to this country.  The United States government, however, by the terms of the treaty, agreed to pay to Mexico $15,000,000, besides paying all the claims of citizens of this country against Mexico.  That President Polk was greatly elated over the results of the Mexican war cannot be doubted.  We may well believe that he justified to himself the course pursued by this country in its aggressive dealings with Mexico, and wresting from her as the “spoils of war” such immense grants of territory; but had he been a less ardent upholder of slavery he would probably have been somewhat less enthusiastic both as regards the annexation of Texas and the prosecution of a war which was disapproved by so many of his countrymen.

            Another act of his administration was of quite a different character.  This was the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute between Great Britain and the United States.  President Polk believed the American title to be good to the whole territory, but favored a compromise, which was finally brought about, the boundary line being fixed at the forty-ninth degree of north latitude.  In this adjustment of a long standing difference between the two nations the wise and conciliatory thought of the President was conspicuous.  While he did not actually direct the negotiations resulting in the treaty, made at Washington in June, 1846, and ratified by the Senate the same month, he yet made the influence of his own good judgment, not less than his official position, felt in the determination thus reached.

            There were other acts belonging to the administration of President Polk that were of a most important and creditable character, and during the four years in which he held the highest office in the gift of the American people, our country gained wonderfully in many of the elements which mark material progress and prosperity.  Three new states, Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin, were added to the Union; there were immense territorial acquisitions, together with a gratifying increase in wealth and population; and the influence of the President was recognized as a factor in many

James K. Polk
Hand-colored Lithograph by N. Currier, 1845 - 1850

movements that tended to advance the Nation’s glory and strength.  He was an ardent upholder of slavery, however, and his views and acts had much to do with the deepening of feeling on that question – a feeling which in the North became so prominent in the last year of Mr. Polk’s administration as to lead to the formation of the “Free Soil” party, out of which grew the Republican organization which finally obtained control of the government.

            At the inauguration of President Taylor, Mr. Polk was a prominent figure.  After joining heartily in the celebration incident to this occasion, the ex-President left Washington, intending to reach his home in Nashville, Tennessee, by a somewhat circuitous route.  During his journey through several of the States he received ovations from his countrymen, as they honored, with appropriate demonstrations, the man of sterling worth who had given the best proof of his love for American institutions by rendering such efficient aid in their behalf during the long years of his public service.

            His many friends at Nashville cordially welcomed Mr. Polk and his devoted wife, and the future seemed to hold in store for them many temporal blessings.  The former President was comparatively a young man, but fifty-four years of age; with erect frame and great intellectual powers, he seemed destined to exert a helpful influence for a long period of time, although retired from the activity and anxieties attendant upon the holding of public office.  His death, however, occurred shortly after his return to Nashville, June 15, 1849, when he sank peacefully to sleep at the close of several days of intense suffering.  All through the Nation there was mourning for the death of so true a man; the honors paid to the distinguished dead were no empty tributes or meaningless forms, but expressed a sense of personal bereavement as well as grief for the Nation’s loss.

            The distinguishing characteristics of President Polk, shown in his student life, were as prominent during his later manhood as in the college days, when it was said of him that he was always prompt at every recitation, and gave the best attention possible to whatever was the occupation of the hour.  These qualities of punctuality, promptness, and the power he possessed to concentrate his attention distinguished his career as a statesman, and made possible the best results of his untiring, well-directed energy.  He was conscientious in fulfilling the tasks which lay nearest him, however unimportant they might seem to the casual observer, always showing that faithfulness to duty which was a part of his nature, revealed in his private life as well as during his term of service as President of the American Nation.

James K. Polk
by George P. A. Healy, 1858