James K. Polk
1795 – 1849

James K. Polk

President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)

planter classstatespersongovernorjuristpolitician
Born
1795-11-02, Pineville
Died
1849-06-15
Birthplace state
North Carolina

Biography

James K. Polk was born in Pineville, North Carolina in 1795 and worked as a lawyer, jurist, governor, and statesman before becoming the 11th president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. A member of the Democratic Party and protégé of Andrew Jackson, he advocated for American expansionism and Jacksonian democracy. During his presidency, Texas joined the Union in his first year, an event connected to the subsequent Mexican–American War, which resulted in American territory extending to the Pacific Ocean, while a concurrent dispute with the United Kingdom over the Oregon Territory was settled, establishing the present U.S.-Canadian boundary.

Occupation

James K. Polk is recorded as a planter class, a statesperson, a governor, a jurist, a politician and a lawyer, born in North Carolina (1795–1849).

Connections to North Carolina

James K. Polk was born in Pineville, North Carolina in 1795. Explore other notable figures from North Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from North Carolina›North Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in North Carolina›
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Everything a full report reveals about Pineville

James K. Polk came from Pineville. A full Aubrey report on Pineville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from North Carolina

Other historical figures born in North Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

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Ava Gardner
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Nina Simone
Nina Simone
American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)
Billy Graham
Billy Graham
American Christian evangelist (1918–2018)
John Coltrane
John Coltrane
American jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)
Kary Mullis
Kary Mullis
American biochemist (1944–2019)

Frequently asked about James K. Polk

Who was James K. Polk?
James K. Polk was President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849), born in North Carolina (1795 – 1849).
When and where was James K. Polk born?
James K. Polk was born on 1795-11-02 in Pineville.
When did James K. Polk die?
James died on 1849-06-15.
What was James K. Polk known for?
James K. Polk is recorded as a planter class, a statesperson, a governor, a jurist, a politician and a lawyer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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