James K. Polk

James Knox Polk was born on November 2, 1795, in a log cabin in Pineville, North Carolina. He was the first of ten children in a family engaged in farming. His maternal grandfather was James Knox, and his father, Samuel Polk, was a farmer, surveyor, and slaveholder of Scots-Irish descent. The Polk family migrated from Maryland to Pennsylvania and later to the Carolina hill country, settling in Maury County, Tennessee, in the early 19th century. The family practiced Presbyterianism, with differing beliefs among its members; James's mother, Jane, was devout, while his father, Samuel, was skeptical about declaring Christian faith formally.

In 1803, Ezekiel Polk, James's grandfather, led his family to what became Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel Polk followed with his family in 1806. The Polk family established political influence in Maury County and the town of Columbia. Samuel Polk served as a county judge, and the family's household hosted visits from notable figures such as Andrew Jackson, a future U.S. president.

Polk experienced health issues as a child, including urinary stones, which required medical intervention. After a successful operation, he recovered and grew more robust. In 1806, his family moved to Tennessee, where Polk attended a Presbyterian academy in 1813 and then Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro. In 1816, he was admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a sophomore. At university, he was a member and president of the Dialectic Society, engaging in debates and developing skills in oratory.

Polk graduated with honors in May 1818 and returned to Tennessee to study law under Felix Grundy, a prominent trial attorney. He was elected as clerk of the Tennessee State Senate in 1819 and re-elected in 1821. Polk was admitted to the Tennessee bar in June 1820 and began practicing law in Maury County.

In August 1823, Polk ran for and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, beginning his political career. He served as a captain and later a colonel in the Tennessee militia, often referred to as "Colonel." Polk's oratory skills earned him the nickname "Napoleon of the Stump." He campaigned vigorously and defeated incumbent William Yancey.

Polk married Sarah Childress on January 1, 1824. She was well-educated and from a prominent Tennessee family. She assisted him with speeches and campaigns, providing influence that complemented Polk's more reserved nature.

Initially mentored by Felix Grundy, Polk’s political positions shifted toward the support of Andrew Jackson, a family friend and military hero. Polk supported Jackson’s 1824 presidential bid and cast his vote for Jackson during a Senate election in 1823, aligning himself with Jacksonian politics.

Polk's early political career included serving in the Tennessee legislature and holding local militia ranks. His background as a lawyer and legislator laid the foundation for his subsequent national political roles, culminating in his election as the 11th president of the United States.