Polk, James Knox (1795-1849)

11th president of the USA 1845-49, a Democrat. Presiding over a period of westward expansion, he allowed Texas admission to the Union, and forced the war on Mexico that resulted in the annexation of California and New Mexico.

Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, educated at the University of North Carolina, and qualified as a barrister in Tennessee 1820. He was Speaker of the US House of Representatives 1835-39. In 1939 he was nominated by the Democrats of Tennessee as governor of the state and was elected, but was defeated in attempts at re-election 1841-43. He was an associate of Andrew Jackson, who influenced his strongly expansionist policies. A believer in manifest destiny, Polk pursued war with Mexico but avoided armed conflict with Britain over the Oregon-Canada boundary.