James K. Polk

He married Sarah Childress, who was a well-educated woman from Tennessee. At the time of marriage she was 20 years old and Polk was 28. They did not have any children.

He died at a young age of 53, at Polk Place, in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 15, 1849 just after three months of retirement from the presidency. It is believed that he had contracted cholera during his goodwill tour of the South.

The United States Postal Service, issued several stamps to honor Polk, the latest was released in 1995 on Polk’s 200th birth anniversary.

His father, named Samuel Polk was a successful farmer and slaveholder of Scottish-Irish origin, whereas his mother, named Jane Polk was the descendent of “John Knox” a Scottish religious reformer.

As a child Polk suffered from various health issues and was home schooled. In 1812, he had to go under the knife in order to get his urinary stones removed.

He took admission at the Zion Church close to his home, in July 1813 and a year later transferred to Murfreesboro, where he shined brilliantly as a student.

Later in 1816, he once again changed institutes and migrated to the University of North Carolina, from where he graduated with honors in 1818.

After graduation, he did apprenticeship under Felix Grundy, who was a well-known Nashville trial attorney.

His career in politics began, when he became a member to the Tennessee legislature in 1823, where he came in close contact with Andrew Jackson.

In 1825, Polk successfully ran for the United States House of Representatives and served as the speaker of the House from 1835 till 1839.

He left the Congress in 1839, to take up the post of governor of Tennessee.

In the 1844 presidential elections, Polk was counted as the frontrunner for the post of Vice President on the Democratic ticket, whereas Martin Van Buren was being eyed as their presidential candidate.

During these elections, when both the presidential candidates from Democratic as well as from the Whig Party, did not pursue the expansionist agenda, Polk took the clear stand in its support.

His body was interred at the grounds of Polk Place and his last dying words were for his wife, he said "I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you."

His was the shortest retirement of all the Presidents of the U.S.A. It lasted just 103 days.

At his inaugural ball, the dancing and music were halted, due to his wife’s religious conviction and only when the presidential couple left, the merriment began.

Famous historian Bernard De Voto described him as “His mind was rigid, narrow, obstinate, far from 1st-rate. But he knew how to get things done, which is the 1st necessity of Government, and he knew what he wanted done, which is the 2nd.”