Remembering Young Hickory
James K. Polk is probably the inspiration for 
potus_geeks. He is the man who really set off my dorky obsession which led to an ever expanding library of biographies about presidents and histories of their times. It is especially fitting that we remember Polk today on this the 163rd anniversary of his death on June 15, 1849 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 53.
Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on November 2, 1795. His father, Samuel Polk, was a slaveholder, successful farmer and surveyor of Scots-Irish descent. His mother, Jane Polk (née Knox), was a descendant of a brother of the Scottish religious reformer John Knox. She named her firstborn after her father James Knox. In 1806, Polk's family moved to the Duck River area in what is now Maury County, Middle Tennessee. The family grew prosperous, with Samuel Polk turning to land speculation and becoming a county judge. Polk was home schooled. His had health problems and in 1812 his pain became so unbearable that he was taken to Dr. Ephraim McDowell of Danville, Kentucky, who operated to remove urinary stones. Polk was awake during the operation with nothing but brandy for an anesthetic. The surgery probably left Polk sterile, as he did not father any children.
Polk studied law under renowned Nashville trial attorney Felix Grundy. On September 20, 1819, Polk, with Grundy's endorsement, was elected clerk for the Tennessee State Senate. He would continue to serve until 1822. Polk was admitted to the bar in June 1820 and his first case was to defend his father against a public fighting charge.
Polk courted Sarah Childress, and they married on January 1, 1824. Polk was then 28, and Sarah was 20. During Polk's political career, Sarah assisted her husband with his speeches, gave him advice on policy matters and played an active role in his campaigns. It is said that Andrew Jackson had encouraged their romance when they began to court.
Polk was elected to Congress and represented Tennessee as a Democrat. He served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841). He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1841 and many believed his political career to be over.
Polk was therefore a surprise candidate for president in 1844, being seen as a compromise after none of the leading contenders could gain the necessary 2/3 majority of the delegates at the nominating convention in Baltimore. Polk defeated Henry Clay (always a bridesmaid, never a bride) of the Whig Party by promising to annex Texas.
Polk was the last strong pre–Civil War president. He came into office with a checklist of four things he wanted to do: 1) lower the tariffs on southern goods like cotton, 2) work out a settlement with Britain over the Oregon Territory, 3) build an independent treasury and 4) annex some of the southwest land held by Mexico. By the end of his term all four were checked off of his to-do list, though he had to go to war with Mexico to accomplish the last. Victory in the Mexican-American War gave the United States most of its present Southwest. The Walker tariff of 1846 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.
POLK BEFORE THE PRESIDENCY:
POLK AFTER THE PRESIDENCY:
Polk was a notorious micro-manager and a workaholic. He probably worked himself to death. Although his official cause of death was cholera, three months after his term ended, by then he was very tired and frail and I don't imagine that he had much of an immune system left. He had lost weight and had deep lines on his face and dark circles under his eyes. He is believed to have contracted cholera in New Orleans, Louisiana, on a goodwill tour of the South. He died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee, at about 4:42 pm on June 15, 1849, three months after leaving office. He was buried on the grounds of Polk Place.
Polk's last words are just plain sweet. They illustrate his love and devotion to his wife, not what you would expect from someone who in all other respects was a cold fish. Polk is reported to have uttered as his last words: "I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you."
Sarah Polk lived at Polk Place for over forty years after his death. Over the course of the civil war, union soldiers passing through Tennessee treated her deferentially and with respect. She died on August 14, 1891.
Polk had the shortest retirement of all Presidents at 103 days. He was the youngest former president to die in retirement at the age of 53. So to commemmorate the memory of this great man, I leave you with the dulcet tones of They Might Be Giants, who are the inspiration for my obsession and likely for this community:
potus_geeks. He is the man who really set off my dorky obsession which led to an ever expanding library of biographies about presidents and histories of their times. It is especially fitting that we remember Polk today on this the 163rd anniversary of his death on June 15, 1849 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 53.Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on November 2, 1795. His father, Samuel Polk, was a slaveholder, successful farmer and surveyor of Scots-Irish descent. His mother, Jane Polk (née Knox), was a descendant of a brother of the Scottish religious reformer John Knox. She named her firstborn after her father James Knox. In 1806, Polk's family moved to the Duck River area in what is now Maury County, Middle Tennessee. The family grew prosperous, with Samuel Polk turning to land speculation and becoming a county judge. Polk was home schooled. His had health problems and in 1812 his pain became so unbearable that he was taken to Dr. Ephraim McDowell of Danville, Kentucky, who operated to remove urinary stones. Polk was awake during the operation with nothing but brandy for an anesthetic. The surgery probably left Polk sterile, as he did not father any children.
Polk studied law under renowned Nashville trial attorney Felix Grundy. On September 20, 1819, Polk, with Grundy's endorsement, was elected clerk for the Tennessee State Senate. He would continue to serve until 1822. Polk was admitted to the bar in June 1820 and his first case was to defend his father against a public fighting charge.
Polk courted Sarah Childress, and they married on January 1, 1824. Polk was then 28, and Sarah was 20. During Polk's political career, Sarah assisted her husband with his speeches, gave him advice on policy matters and played an active role in his campaigns. It is said that Andrew Jackson had encouraged their romance when they began to court.
Polk was elected to Congress and represented Tennessee as a Democrat. He served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841). He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1841 and many believed his political career to be over.
Polk was therefore a surprise candidate for president in 1844, being seen as a compromise after none of the leading contenders could gain the necessary 2/3 majority of the delegates at the nominating convention in Baltimore. Polk defeated Henry Clay (always a bridesmaid, never a bride) of the Whig Party by promising to annex Texas.
Polk was the last strong pre–Civil War president. He came into office with a checklist of four things he wanted to do: 1) lower the tariffs on southern goods like cotton, 2) work out a settlement with Britain over the Oregon Territory, 3) build an independent treasury and 4) annex some of the southwest land held by Mexico. By the end of his term all four were checked off of his to-do list, though he had to go to war with Mexico to accomplish the last. Victory in the Mexican-American War gave the United States most of its present Southwest. The Walker tariff of 1846 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.
POLK BEFORE THE PRESIDENCY:
POLK AFTER THE PRESIDENCY:
Polk was a notorious micro-manager and a workaholic. He probably worked himself to death. Although his official cause of death was cholera, three months after his term ended, by then he was very tired and frail and I don't imagine that he had much of an immune system left. He had lost weight and had deep lines on his face and dark circles under his eyes. He is believed to have contracted cholera in New Orleans, Louisiana, on a goodwill tour of the South. He died at his new home, Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee, at about 4:42 pm on June 15, 1849, three months after leaving office. He was buried on the grounds of Polk Place.
Polk's last words are just plain sweet. They illustrate his love and devotion to his wife, not what you would expect from someone who in all other respects was a cold fish. Polk is reported to have uttered as his last words: "I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you."
Sarah Polk lived at Polk Place for over forty years after his death. Over the course of the civil war, union soldiers passing through Tennessee treated her deferentially and with respect. She died on August 14, 1891.
Polk had the shortest retirement of all Presidents at 103 days. He was the youngest former president to die in retirement at the age of 53. So to commemmorate the memory of this great man, I leave you with the dulcet tones of They Might Be Giants, who are the inspiration for my obsession and likely for this community: