James K. Polk Biography

James K. Polk, President

Attr: Superwikifan

Born as	James Knox Polk
Occup.	President
From	USA
Born	November 2, 1795 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
Died	June 15, 1849 Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Cause	Cholera
Aged	53 years

James Knox Polk was born upon November 2, 1795, in Pineville, North Carolina, just a few years after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. He was the oldest of 10 kids born to Samuel and also Jane Knox Polk, both of whom were of Irish and also Scottish descent. Increased on a simple hacienda, the Polks valued education as well as effort, which affected James throughout his life.

At the age of 17, Polk undertook a significant surgical treatment for urinary system stones, which left him unable to daddy kids. Regardless of this trouble, he took place to go to the University of North Carolina and mastered his researches, specifically in maths as well as the classics. After graduating with honors in 1818, he went after a legal career as well as was confessed to the bar in Tennessee in 1820.

Polk got in politics soon after, serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1823 to 1825. He was after that elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he offered from 1825 to 1839. As a lawmaker, Polk made a reputation as an ardent supporter of previous President Andrew Jackson, which made him the label "Young Hickory". In 1835, he was elected as the Speaker of the House, a position he held until 1839.

Upon leaving Congress, Polk sought and also won the governorship of Tennessee in 1839. However, he was defeated in his re-election quote in 1841 and also again in 1843. Regardless of these losses, Polk continued to be an energetic and also influential number in Tennessee national politics.

In 1844, Polk all of a sudden became the Democratic Party's governmental candidate. He campaigned on a system of westward growth, supporting for the annexation of Texas as well as the reoccupation of the Oregon Territory. In an extremely close race, Polk defeated Whig candidate Henry Clay to come to be the 11th president of the United States.

During his time in office, President Polk proved to be a very effective and definitive leader. He looked after the successful addition of Texas and also the acquisition of the Oregon Territory, which solidified the United States' insurance claims to the Pacific Northwest. The Mexican-American War, which took place during his presidency, resulted in the acquisition of vast regions in the Southwest, consisting of California, New Mexico, and Arizona. Polk's presidency was additionally marked by substantial domestic policy accomplishments, such as the establishment of the Department of the Interior and the Smithsonian Institution.

Regardless of his successes, President Polk faced opposition from activist teams who condemned him for his support of enslavement and also the development of slaveholding regions. Additionally, the strain of the Mexican-American War weighed heavily on Polk's wellness, leading him to leave national politics after his very first term, honoring his pledge to offer just one term.

After leaving workplace on March 4, 1849, Polk retired to his ranch in Tennessee, where he as well as his better half, Sarah Childress Polk, intended to take pleasure in a quiet life together. Nevertheless, simply three months later on, on June 15, 1849, James K. Polk succumbed to a sudden round of cholera, interrupting the life of among America's many consequential presidents.

Our collection contains 14 quotes who is written / told by James, under the main topic History.

Related authors: William Pennington (Politician), Andrew Jackson (President), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Henry Clay (Statesman)

Source / external links:

14 Famous quotes by James K. Polk

"The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government"

"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"

"The passion for office among members of Congress is very great, if not absolutely disreputable, and greatly embarrasses the operations of the Government. They create offices by their own votes and then seek to fill them themselves"

"Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government"

"I am heartily rejoiced that my term is so near its close. I will soon cease to be a servant and will become a sovereign"

"Although... the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a party only, but of the whole people of the United States"

"Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the public good"

"With me it is exceptionally true that the Presidency is no bed of roses"

"Peace, plenty, and contentment reign throughout our borders, and our beloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle to the world"

"It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored"

"One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights"

"No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure"

"Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression"

"There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S"