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Where was james k polk born

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James K. Polk

President of the United States from 1845 to 1849

"James Polk" redirects here. For other people with the same name, see James Polk (disambiguation).

James K. Polk

Polk c. 1845–1849

In office
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
Vice PresidentGeorge M. Dallas
Preceded byJohn Tyler
Succeeded byZachary Taylor
In office
October 14, 1839 – October 15, 1841
Preceded byNewton Cannon
Succeeded byJames C. Jones
In office
December 7, 1835 – March 3, 1839
Preceded byJohn Bell
Succeeded byRobert M. T. Hunter
In office
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1839
Preceded byJohn Alexander Cocke
Succeeded byHarvey Magee Watterson
Constituency
Born

James Knox Polk


(1795-11-02)November 2, 1795
Pineville, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 1849(1849-06-15) (aged 53)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting placeTennessee State Capitol
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Parent
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (AB)
Occupation
Signatur
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James Polk’s Early Years

James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795, in a log cabin in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. As a boy, Polk, the eldest of 10 children, moved with his family to Columbia, Tennessee, where his father became a prosperous land surveyor, planter and businessman. The younger Polk was often sick as a child, and as a teen he survived a major operation for urinary stones. The surgery was done before the advent of modern antiseptics and anesthesia; Polk was reportedly given some brandy as a sedative. 

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A top student, Polk graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1818 and studied law under a leading Nashville attorney. He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and opened a law practice in Columbia. He entered politics in 1823 when he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Did you know? In addition to being nicknamed "Young Hickory," Polk, an eloquent orator who was small in stature, was dubbed "Na

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James Polk

(1795-1849)

Who Was James Polk?

James Polk was the 11th and youngest (at the time) president of the United States (1845–1849). Polk’s annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), and the U.S. victory thereby led to the acquisition of large territories in the Southwest and along the Pacific coast, which in turn led to the establishment of the Department of the Interior. The northern border of the United States was also established under Polk, as were the Naval Academy and the Smithsonian. He died on June 15, 1849, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Early Years

James Knox Polk was born in Pineville, a small town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on November 2, 1795, and graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. Leaving his law practice behind, he served in the Tennessee legislature, where he became friends with Andrew Jackson. Polk moved from the Tennessee legislature to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1825 to 1839 (and serving as speaker of the House from 1835 to 1839). He left his congressional

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