32 moments

1. Birth at Pineville

   1795-11-02 · Pineville, North Carolina, United States

   

   Polk was born in a log cabin in Pineville, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Coordinates represent Pineville, the documented birth locality; the original cabin no longer survives.

2. Family relocation to Maury County

   1806-01-01 · Maury County, Tennessee, United States

   Polk moved with his family to the Duck River area that became Maury County, Tennessee, establishing the Columbia-area setting of his youth. Coordinates represent Columbia, the principal settlement associated with the Polk family in Maury County.

3. Surgery by Ephraim McDowell

   1812-01-01 · Danville, Kentucky, United States

   As an adolescent, Polk was taken to Danville for an operation to remove urinary stones, after an intended journey to Philadelphia was abandoned because of pain. The operation is dated only to 1812 in the Library of Congress chronology.

4. Study at Zion Church Academy

   1813-01-01 · Zion Church area, Maury County, Tennessee, United States

   Polk began formal preparatory education at Zion Church Academy near his Maury County home. Coordinates are a representative point for the Zion Church area near Columbia; the academy's exact historic site is uncertain.

5. Student at Bradley Academy

   1814-01-01 · Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States

   Polk attended Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro as part of his preparation for university study. The date is approximate: the Library of Congress chronology gives circa 1814.

6. University of North Carolina student

   1816-01-01 · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

   Polk entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a second-semester sophomore and developed his debating and oratorical skills there.

7. Law study under Felix Grundy

   1818-01-01 · Nashville, Tennessee, United States

   After university, Polk returned to Nashville to read law under prominent trial lawyer Felix Grundy. The source supports the year but not a more precise arrival date.

8. Graduation from the University of North Carolina

   1818-05-01 · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

   Polk completed his undergraduate education with honors at Chapel Hill. The place follows the immediately preceding discussion of his attendance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

9. Tennessee Senate clerk

   1819-09-20 · Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States

   Polk was elected clerk of the Tennessee State Senate while that body sat in Murfreesboro. Coordinates represent the historic seat of Tennessee government in Murfreesboro.

10. Law practice in Maury County

    1820-06-01 · Columbia, Tennessee, United States

    After admission to the Tennessee bar, Polk opened a law office in Maury County and began the Columbia-area practice that supported his political career. Coordinates represent Columbia, Maury County's principal town and Polk's documented young-adult home.

11. Marriage to Sarah Childress

    1824-01-01 · Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States

    Polk married Sarah Childress in Murfreesboro, beginning a political partnership that continued throughout his public career.

12. Arrival for congressional service

    1825-12-01 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    Polk arrived in Washington for the regular congressional session and boarded with fellow Tennessee representatives. Coordinates represent the U.S. Capitol area, the center of the congressional session.

13. First major House speech

    1826-03-13 · United States Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    In Washington, Polk delivered his first major speech in Congress, arguing for abolition of the Electoral College and popular election of the president. The source identifies the speech in the context of his congressional residence and service in Washington.

14. Speaker of the House election

    1835-12-01 · United States Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Polk became Speaker of the House after defeating John Bell at the opening of the new Congress. The preceding text dates the successful speakership contest to the start of Congress in December 1835; coordinates represent the House chamber at the Capitol.

15. Residence recorded in Nashville census

    1840-01-01 · Nashville, Tennessee, United States

    

    The 1840 federal census enumerated James K. Polk's household in Nashville's third ward during his governorship. The census identifies the household's ward rather than an exact street address.

16. Presidential campaign headquarters

    1844-06-01 · Columbia, Tennessee, United States

    

    After receiving news of his Democratic nomination, Polk remained at his home base in Columbia and directed his campaign through correspondence rather than public speeches. The source dates the acceptance of the nomination to June 12, 1844; the card therefore uses month precision.

17. Inauguration as president

    1845-03-04 · United States Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Polk took office as the eleventh president and delivered his inaugural address in Washington. Coordinates represent the inaugural site at the U.S. Capitol.

18. Excursion to Fort Monroe

    1846-08-01 · Fort Monroe, Hampton, Virginia, United States

    During his presidency, Polk and Sarah Polk made a short recreational excursion from Washington to Fort Monroe. The Library of Congress account supports month, not day, precision.

19. Return to Chapel Hill

    1847-06-01 · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

    Polk revisited his alma mater at Chapel Hill, where he attended college events and met alumni during a nonpolitical excursion. The quoted diary entry is from Polk's early-June 1847 visit; the available supporting text does not establish a day for this particular chapel attendance.

20. Northern tour begins in Baltimore

    1847-06-22 · Baltimore, Maryland, United States

    Polk began his northern and eastern tour with an afternoon in Baltimore before proceeding northward.

21. Northern tour in Philadelphia

    1847-06-23 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    Polk traveled from Baltimore to Philadelphia on the second day of his northern tour.

22. Northern tour in New York

    1847-06-25 · New York City, New York, United States

    Polk traveled to New York City during his two-week northern tour.

23. Northern tour in Springfield

    1847-06-28 · Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

    Polk traveled through Connecticut and arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts, during the northern tour.

24. Northern tour in Portland

    1847-07-05 · Portland, Maine, United States

    Polk was in Portland, Maine, on his return journey from the northern tour.

25. Return through Philadelphia

    1847-07-06 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    Polk returned to Philadelphia on the final leg of his northern and eastern tour.

26. Return to Washington from northern tour

    1847-07-07 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Polk completed his northern and eastern tour by returning to Washington. Coordinates represent the White House, Polk's presidential residence and working headquarters.

27. Washington Monument cornerstone ceremony

    1848-07-04 · Washington Monument grounds, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    Polk attended the ceremony at which the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid.

28. Final journey through Alabama

    1849-01-01 · Alabama, United States

    

    During his homeward journey after leaving office, Polk and Sarah reached Alabama, where his health began to worsen. The source does not provide a more precise date or Alabama locality; coordinates are a representative point for the state.

29. Illness in New Orleans

    1849-01-01 · New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

    

    On the final journey home, Polk became ill in New Orleans and stayed ashore in a hotel for four days amid cholera fears. The immediately preceding text identifies the city as New Orleans; it does not establish a precise arrival or departure date.

30. Final departure from Washington

    1849-03-06 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Two days after the transfer of power to Zachary Taylor, Polk left Washington on his planned return journey through the South. Coordinates represent the White House area, from which the former president departed the capital.

31. Arrival home in Nashville

    1849-04-02 · Nashville, Tennessee, United States

    

    Polk arrived in Nashville after his final southern journey and received a large public welcome.

32. Death at Polk Place

    1849-06-15 · Polk Place, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

    

    After retiring to Polk Place in Nashville, Polk died there at age fifty-three, probably from cholera. Polk Place was demolished in 1901; coordinates mark its former Nashville vicinity.