James Knox Polk (November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was
the 11th President of the United States (1845–1849). Polk was
born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and
represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as Speaker
(1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841).
Polk was the surprise ("dark horse") candidate for president in
1844, defeating Henry Clay of the rival Whig Party by promising to
annex Texas. Polk was a leader of Jacksonian Democracy during the
Second Party System. Polk was the last strong pre–Civil War
president, and he is the earliest of whom there are surviving
photographs taken during a term in office.
He is noted for his foreign policy successes. He threatened war
with Britain over the issue of which nation owned the Oregon
Country, then backed away and split the ownership of the region
with Britain. When Mexico rejected American annexation of Texas,
Polk led the nation to a sweeping victory in the Mexican-American
War, which gave the United States most of its present Southwest. He
secured passage of the Walker tariff of 1846, which had low rates
that pleased his native South, and he established a treasury system
that lasted until 1913.Polk oversaw the opening of the U.S. Naval
Academy and the Smithsonian Institution, the groundbreaking for the
Washington Monument, and the issuance of the first postage stamps
in the United States.
He promised to serve only one term and did not run for
reelection. He died of cholera three months after his term
ended.
Scholars have ranked him favorably on the list of greatest
presidents for his ability to set an agenda and achieve all of it.
Polk has been called the "least known consequential president" of
the United States.