U.S. Presidents & First Ladies
James Polk
James K. Polk, born in 1795 in North Carolina, was a lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee — Polk wrote this letter while he was Speaker. Emerging as a "dark horse" candidate, he became the 11th president in 1845. Polk, a determined expansionist and protégé of Andrew Jackson, pledged to serve only one term. As president, he oversaw significant territorial expansion through the Mexican-American War — acquiring California and the Southwest — and settled the Oregon boundary with Great Britain. Polk left office having achieved his major goals and died shortly after in 1849.
July 18, 1836
Col. John W. Childress
White Sulfur Springs, VA
We reached here four days ago on our way home and concluded to spend a few days with the busy bustling fashionable throngs who at this season of the year frequent this celebrated watering place. Finding the roads intolerably bad from the long continued rains, and my horses being already much jaded, I sent Elias with the empty carriage on to Wyandotte three days ago, where we will overtake him in the stage. From Wyandotte, we will take a boat to Louisville and go from there without unnecessary delays to Nashville. I hope to be at Nashville in the course of
10 to 12 days. Sarah is anxious to see her mother and friends at Murfreesboro, and if I reach Nashville in time, and shall ascertain (as my impression now is) that the court in Bedford sits on the 1st Monday in August, we will go to Murfreesboro before we return to Columbia, where Sarah will remain until I can pay a visit to my constituents at Shelbyville and return for her. This, however, is not certain, and if we do not come by, I will write you from Nashville. The President is on his way, and will be at the Hermitage about the time we will get to Nashville.
James Knox Polk
