James K. Polk

Eleventh President of the United States

1845-1849


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Personal information
Innaugural address
Term in office
























Birth Date: November 2, 1795
Birth Place: Mecklenburg County
Death Date: June 15, 1849
Death Place: Nashville, Tennessee
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Democrat
Wife: Sarah Childress
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Term: 1845-1849
Vice President: George M. Dallas
-1845-
Innaugurated as president (March)
Problems with Mexico, trying to claim U.S. lands (March)
Andrew Jackson dies (June)
Troops moved to Texas side of Rio Grande (June)
Texas admitted into Union (December)
-1846-
State of War declared on Mexico (May)
War with Mexico through rest of year
-1847-
Painting done by Thomas Sully (May)
United States captured Mexico (September)
-1848-
Gold discovered in Sacramento (January)
Missouri Compromise in the works (June)
Treaty of Guadalupe (July)
-1849-
Entertained next president of U.S. before leaving office (March)
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