PRESIDENT JAMES KNOX POLK

11th President of the United States (March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1849) Nickname: "Young Hickory" Born: November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Died: June 15, 1849, in Nashville, Tennessee Father: Samuel Polk Mother: Jane Knox Polk Married: Sarah Childress (1803-1891), on January 1, 1824 Children: None Religion: Presbyterian Education: Graduated from the University of North Carolina (1818) Occupation: Lawyer Political Party: Democratic 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/year Points of Interest: A week before he died, Polk was baptized a Methodist. Gaslights were installed in the White House while Polk was a resident. Polk survived a gallstone operation at age 17 without anethesia or antiseptics. Those medical practices were not used at the time. The first annual White House Thanksgiving dinner was hosted by Sarah Polk. Sarah Polk was a devout Presbyterian. She banned dancing, card-playing and alcoholic beverages in the White House. News of Polk's nomination was widely disseminated using the telegraph. The first time his had been done.

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