11

James K Polk
11th President of the United States

James Polk

1845–1849

Vice President: George M Dallas
Born: November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Died: June 15, 1849, in Nashville, Tennessee
Career/Occupation: Lawyer
Religion: Presbyterian
Education: Graduated from the University of North Carolina (1818)
Political Party: Democrat
Nickname(s): "Young Hickory"


Other Government Positions:
Member of Tennessee House of Representatives, 1823-25
Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1825-39
Speaker of the House, 1835-39
Governor of Tennessee, 1839-41

Presidential Salary: $25,000


Firsts:

• First President to be elected to the office before reaching the age of 50
• First President to be under the age of 50 upon entering office.
• First President to have served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• First President born in North Carolina.
• First President to be a Methodist.
He was baptized as a Methodist one week before he died.
• First President to be elected despite losing his states of birth and residence.
• First President to be nominated by his party as a dark horse.
• Polk's nomination was the first time that news of a Presidential was widely disseminated using the telegraph.
Polk's nomination was widely disseminated using the telegraph. The first time this had been done.
• First President not to seek re-election upon the completion of his one term.
• First President to die before reaching the age of 60.
• First President to predecease a parent
• First President not to keep a pet during his term in office