Death of James K. Polk

James K. Polk died on 15 June 1849 in Nashville, aged 53. The 11th President of the United States, Polk was a Tennessee Democrat and protégé of Andrew Jackson, who had served as Speaker of the House and governor of Tennessee. He won the 1844 election as a dark horse candidate promising territorial expansion and pledged to serve only one term. His presidency settled the Oregon boundary with Britain at the 49th parallel in 1846 and led the country into the Mexican-American War, which brought California and the Southwest under American control. He also lowered tariffs and restored an independent treasury. He kept his word and left office in 1849, dying a few months later.

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