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(November 2, 1795-June 15, 1849), eleventh President of the United States, was born in Mecklenburg County, N. C. Having graduated at the University of North Carolina, he became a lawyer in Tennessee, and represented that State as a Democratic Congressman, 1825-1839. He became chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and in 1835-1839 he was Speaker of the House. From 1839 to 1841 he was Governor of Tennessee, and failed of re-election in 1841 and 1843. The Democratic National Convention selected Polk in 1844 as a " safe " compromise candidate. He was elected over Clay after a hard struggle, having 175 electoral votes. Being inaugurated March 4, 1845, he selected Buchanan for the State Department, R. J. Walker for the Treasury, Marcy for War, and the historian Bancroft for the Navy. The Mexican War, which President Polk favored, was prosecuted successfully during his administration, and the Oregon controversy with England was peacefully settled in 1846. The revenue " Walker Tariff" received his approval. He vetoed river and harbor bills in 1846 and 1847. The California gold discoveries occurred near the end of his term. He died in Nashville a few months after his retirement from office.