James K. Polk served as the 11th president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. Despite being one of the lesser-known presidents, Polk accomplished much during his single term in office. He was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny, the idea that the United States was meant to expand its territory from coast to coast. During his presidency, he oversaw the acquisition of a significant amount of land, including Texas, California, and a portion of present-day Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1795. His family moved to Tennessee when he was a child, and he later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing his education, Polk went on to become a lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and later in the United States House of Representatives.
In 1844, Polk ran for president as the Democratic candidate. He won the election, defeating Henry Clay of the Whig Party. Polk's presidency was marked by his commitment to territorial expansion. One of his first acts as president was to annex Texas, which had recently become an independent republic. He also negotiated the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain, which established the U.S.-Canadian border at the 49th parallel.