James Polk was the 11th president of the United States, known for his territorial expansion of the nation chiefly through the Mexican-American War.
• James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He previously was Speaker of the House of Representatives and governor of Tennessee. A protégé of Andrew Jackson, he was a member of the Democratic Party and an advocate of Jacksonian democracy.
• Born: November 2, 1795, Pineville, NC
• Died: June 15, 1849, Nashville, TN
• Presidential term: March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
• Party: Democratic Party
• Vice president: George M. Dallas (1845–1849)
• Buried: Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, TN
• First president to be elected to the office before reaching the age of 50 (49).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.