{"id":17949,"date":"2024-06-25T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T16:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=17949"},"modified":"2024-09-03T17:59:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T21:59:25","slug":"11-polk-james-knox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=17949","title":{"rendered":"#11. Polk, James Knox"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em> Linda Lou Burton posting from Little Rock, Arkansas <\/em>\u2013James Knox Polk (November 2, 1795 \u2013 June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States (1845 to 1849). Two things pop to the top of James\u2019 resume when I read about his life. For one, he actually WAS born in a Log Cabin. Not on a James River plantation, or the make-believe log cabin used for W H Harrison\u2019s campaign. James Polk really was born in a log cabin in North Carolina, the first of ten kids. I\u2019ll get back to that in a minute, but you can visit a reconstruction of it today, should you doubt. The second notable thing that stands out about James is his Bucket List. Yes, James had one when he got to the White House, and he just sat there and ticked off items one by one till they were done. Imagine that! So \u2013 remember these four words for the quiz at the end \u2013 Log-Cabin-Bucket-List. I\u2019ve been to James\u2019 grave on the capitol grounds in Nashville; folks are pretty proud of him there, although the state\u2019s \"\"<\/a>electoral votes didn\u2019t go to him in the 1844 election; neither did North Carolina\u2019s, his birth state. But enough state electorals did \u2013 it was close, but Democrat Polk received 170 to Whig Clay\u2019s 105. That was the 1844 ticket, after the poker game in the back room where Martin Van Buren and John Tyler and Andrew Jackson and all the others who were arguing over Texas and slavery and Manifest Destiny ended, and the campaign moved forward. James went to the White House with the promise to them all: I\u2019m just staying four years, and I\u2019m outta here<\/em>. James did exactly what he said he would, tick, tick, tick. And it wore the man to a frazzle. But I\u2019m getting ahead of the story. Question: Would you invite this man to your party? I definitely would, I mean, maybe I could learn a few organizational skills from this guy, my Bucket List seems to be slow going.<\/p>\n

Two Words – Log Cabin <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>When James was born in that log cabin in Pineville, North Carolina in 1795, his parents had a disagreement right away. Father Samuel refused to declare his belief in Christianity at James\u2019 baptism. Samuel\u2019s own father was a deist who rejected dogmatic Presbyterianism; so Samuel stood firm that day, and the minister would not baptize James. Jane Knox Polk, James\u2019 mother, nevertheless stamped her beliefs on her son \u2013 instilling in him the traits of hard work, self-discipline, and individualism. And nine more children were born to Samuel and Jane. They moved to Maury County Tennessee in 1806 when James was eleven; James’ health was frail; he wound up having an operation for urinary stones when he was sixteen. His health improved, though it is believed the operation made him sterile; he fathered no children in his 53 years.<\/p>\n

James learned \u201cpolitics\u201d around the dinner table; the Polk clan dominated politics there and folks like Andrew Jackson were frequent guests. Father Samuel was a county judge, among other things; he offered to bring James into one of his businesses but James wanted an education first. Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro; then on to University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. James joined the Dialectic Society and took part in debates; he graduated with honors in 1818, age 23. Back to Nashville to study law; he served as clerk of the Tennessee State Senate, and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1820. First case: he defended his \"\"<\/a>father against a public fighting charge! He secured Samuel\u2019s release for a $1 fine. James built a successful law practice, and (maybe a Bucket List item) he got married.<\/p>\n

Sarah Childress (1803-1891) was well educated; in fact, she and James first crossed paths at school in Murfreesboro. She went on to attend the exclusive Salem Academy in North Carolina, one of the few institutions of higher learning available to women at the time. James and Sarah were formally introduced when he was involved with the State Legislature; they married on January 1, 1824 \u2013 he was 28, she was 20. It is said that Andrew Jackson encouraged the marriage, calling Sarah \u201cpretty, ambitious, and intelligent.\u201d During James’ political career Sarah assisted him with his speeches, gave him advice on policy matters, and played an active role in his campaigns.<\/p>\n

Government Positions<\/strong><\/p>\n