Happy Birthday Jimmy Knox Polk
It seems to me that November 2nd would be a great day on which to hold President's Day because it's the birthday of two of my favourites. While they can't hold a candle to Washington and Lincoln (making February a pretty good first choice), there is still much to be said for these two.
James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795 (217 years ago today) in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. His father, Samuel Polk, was a slaveholder, a successful farmer and a surveyor of Scots-Irish descent. His mother, Jane Polk (born Jane Knox), was a descendant of a brother of the Scottish religious reformer John Knox. She named her first born child in honour of her father James Knox.
In 1806, Polk's family moved to the Duck River area in what is now Maury County, Tennessee. The family grew prosperous, with Samuel Polk turning to land speculation and becoming a county judge. Young James Polk was home schooled. He had health problems and in 1812 his pain became so unbearable that he was taken to Dr. Ephraim McDowell of Danville, Kentucky, who diagnosed the problem as urinary stones and operated to remove them. 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 (who would later serve as Attorney-General in the cabinet of Martin Van Buren). On September 20, 1819, Polk, with Grundy's support and 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 first met his future wife, Sarah Childress, while both were receiving instruction from Samuel P. Black in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was then 19 and she was 12. Several years later James began courting her. Andrew Jackson played matchmaker. He called Sarah “wealthy, pretty, ambitious, and intelligent,” and urged Polk to marry her. 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.
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 a surprise candidate for president in 1844. He was 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 of these. 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 was a notorious micro-manager and a workaholic. He probably worked himself to death. Although his official cause of death was cholera, which took his life 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, while 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 seemed 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:
James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795 (217 years ago today) in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. His father, Samuel Polk, was a slaveholder, a successful farmer and a surveyor of Scots-Irish descent. His mother, Jane Polk (born Jane Knox), was a descendant of a brother of the Scottish religious reformer John Knox. She named her first born child in honour of her father James Knox.
In 1806, Polk's family moved to the Duck River area in what is now Maury County, Tennessee. The family grew prosperous, with Samuel Polk turning to land speculation and becoming a county judge. Young James Polk was home schooled. He had health problems and in 1812 his pain became so unbearable that he was taken to Dr. Ephraim McDowell of Danville, Kentucky, who diagnosed the problem as urinary stones and operated to remove them. 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 (who would later serve as Attorney-General in the cabinet of Martin Van Buren). On September 20, 1819, Polk, with Grundy's support and 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 first met his future wife, Sarah Childress, while both were receiving instruction from Samuel P. Black in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was then 19 and she was 12. Several years later James began courting her. Andrew Jackson played matchmaker. He called Sarah “wealthy, pretty, ambitious, and intelligent,” and urged Polk to marry her. 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.
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 a surprise candidate for president in 1844. He was 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 of these. 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 was a notorious micro-manager and a workaholic. He probably worked himself to death. Although his official cause of death was cholera, which took his life 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, while 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 seemed 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: