Polk, James Knox
eleventh president of the United States, was born Nov. 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg county, N. C.
His ancestors' name was Pollock. In 1806 his father and family moved to Nashville, Tenn.
James graduated at the university of North Carolina in 1818, and was admitted to the bar in 1820. In 1823 he was elected to the Tennessee legislature, and was a member of that body two years. In 1825 he was elected to the national house of representatives. He held the office by re-elections for fourteen years, and was chosen speaker of the house two terms. He was elected governor of Tennessee in 1839, and was a candidate for re-election in 1841, but was defeated. He was again a candidate for the same office in 1843, and was again defeated. On the 27th of May, 1844, the national democratic convention assembled at Baltimore. On the first ballot Martin Van Buren received 146 votes; Lewis Cass, 83; Richard Mentor Johnson, 24; John Caldwell Calhoun, 6, and 7 scattering. Mr. Van Buren received a majority, but a rule of the convention required a two-thirds vote to nominate. On the eighth ballot Van Buren received 104; Cass, 114; James Knox Polk, 44.
On the ninth ballot the vote was unanimous for Mr. Polk. George Mifflin Dallas was nominated for vice-president. They were elected the coming autumn, and took the oath of office March 4, 1845. On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk's administration closed. He returned to his home in Nashville, and died June 15, 1849. Polk held office twenty-two years. He left about $150,000.