6 Things You Didn't Know About James K. Polk Learn scintillating facts about this pious Methodist who never drank, danced or scintillated

Term: 1845-1849
Party Affiliation: Democratic

1. At the age of 17, James K. Polk had a stone surgically removed from his urinary tract without any anesthesia or antiseptics.
2. Polk oversaw the groundbreaking of the Washington Monument, the founding of the Naval Academy, and the creation of the postage stamp.
3. During his tenure, the United States acquired over 800,000 square miles of Western territory and extended its boundary to the Pacific Ocean.


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4. The Polks were such prudes that all music and dancing at James’ inaugural ball ceased when they arrived and didn’t resume until they left.
5. The "K" is for Knox. (Turns out he wasn’t a very interesting president.)
6. He sneaked in a quick baptism as a Methodist one week week before his death, which (bonus fact!) was technically attributable to diarrhea.