Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. His early schooling was by private tutor. In 1818 he Graduated from the University of North Carolina. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He was Chief Clerk of the Tennessee Senate 1821 to 1823. Married to Sarah Childress January 1, 1824. Elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives serving 1823 to 1825.

Elected to the United States House of Representatives and served 1825 to 1839. In 1839 he was elected Governor of Tennessee. He was not reelected.

In 1844 he was elected 11th President and served March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1849. He did not run for reelection. He died in Nashville later in 1849.

Polk appears on the Indian Peace Medal (Julian IP- 24, 25, 26). The obverse die was by John Gadsby Chapman. The reverse used the common Reich die. The mint produced a modern copy (USM 111).

The James K. polk presidential dollar coin was released August 20, 2009.

bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Drake; EAB; Failor; Loubat; NCAB 6; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H