Sarah Polk | |
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First Lady of the United States | |
In office March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 |
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Preceded by | Julia Tyler |
Succeeded by | Margaret Taylor |
Personal details | |
Born | Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S. |
September 4, 1803
Died | August 14, 1891 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
(aged 87)
Spouse(s) | James K. Polk |
Religion | Presbyterian |
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Sarah Childress Polk (September 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891) was the wife of the 11th President of the United States, James Polk, and the 12th woman to serve as First Lady.
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Early life and education
Sarah Childress was born in 1803 to Joel Childress, a prominent planter, merchant, and land speculator, and Elizabeth Whitsitt Childress—the third of their six children. Sarah was well educated for a woman of her time and place, attending the exclusive Moravians' "female academy" at Salem, North Carolina. She was then schooled at what is now Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1817, one of the few institutions of higher learning available to women in the early 19th century.
Sarah met James Polk while both were receiving instruction from Samuel P. Black in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; he was 19, she was 12. Several years later James began courting her, and in 1823 the two became engaged. Sarah Childress, aged 20, married James Polk, aged 28, on January 1, 1824, at the plantation home of the bride's parents near Murfreesboro. The Polks had no children of their own, but raised a nephew, Marshall Tate Polk (1831–1884) as their personal ward. After her husband's death, Mrs. Polk assumed guardianship of an orphaned niece, Sarah Polk Jetton (1847–1924), and raised the girl as her own.
Sarah physically was a fairly tall young lady, with black hair that was parted in the middle and worn in ringlets, brown eyes and sallow coloring. She had prominent teeth that caused her to tighten her lips, giving her a disapproving look, though she was admired as "noble" beauty. She usually dress in vibrant blues, reds and maroons, that suited her dark coloring. Because of her overall looks, she was given the nickname "Sahara Sarah".
Years of political life (1825-1849)
During Polk's political career, Sarah assisted her husband with his speeches, gave him advice on policy matters and played an active role in his campaigns. Legend says Andrew Jackson called her “wealthy, pretty, ambitious, and intelligent,” and urged James K. Polk to marry Sarah Childress, which he did.[1] In Washington as congressman's wife during the administrations of John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren, Mrs. Polk very much enjoyed her social duties. She risked a breach with Jackson, her husband's mentor, by taking part in the social ostracism of Peggy Eaton.
In 1845, Sarah Polk became the 11th First Lady of the United States She was lively, charming, intelligent, and a good conversationalist. President Polk at times discussed policy matters with her. While she enjoyed politics, she also cautioned him against overwork. A devout Presbyterian, she as First Lady banned dancing and hard liquor at official receptions and refused to attend horse races or the theatre. When she attended the Inaugural Ball, she did not dance. She hosted the first annual Thanksgiving dinner at the White House.
Contrasted with Julia Tyler's waltzes, the Polk entertainments were noted for sedateness and sobriety. Although some accounts stated that the Polks never served wine, a Congressman's wife recorded in her diary details of a four-hour dinner for forty at the White House—glasses for six different wines, from pink champagne to ruby port and sauterne, "formed a rainbow around each plate."[2]
Later life
After attending the inauguration of James Polk's successor, Zachary Taylor, on March 5, 1849, he and Sarah left by horse and carriage to their new home "Polk Place" in Nashville, Tennessee. Three months later, James Polk died, having had the shortest retirement of any former U.S. President. [3] The United States government granted her a pension of $5,000 per annum. [4] During the American Civil War, she was neutral. Sarah Polk lived on in that home for 42 years. She lived through the longest retirement and widowhood of any former US First Lady, and wore black always. She died on August 14, 1891, at age 87. She was buried next to the president at their home in Nashville and was later reinterred with him at the Tennessee State Capitol. Only 41 when her husband became president, widow Mrs. Sarah Polk outlived several of her successors: Margaret Taylor, Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce, Mary Todd Lincoln, Eliza Johnson and Lucy Webb Hayes. Only a handful of first ladies have lived longer -- Anna Harrison, Edith Bolling Wilson, Betty Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, and Bess Truman.
References
- ^ Sarah Childress Polk. The White House. Retrieved on October 14, 2007.
- ^ "Sarah Childress Polk". The White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies/sarahpolk. "Contrasted with Julia Tyler's waltzes, her entertainments have become famous for sedateness and sobriety. Some later accounts say that the Polks never served wine, but in December 1845 a Congressman's wife recorded in her diary details of a four-hour dinner for forty at the White House--glasses for six different wines, from pink champagne to ruby port and sauterne, "formed a rainbow around each plate." "
- ^ Portrait and biographical record of Stark county, Ohio: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portrait of all the presidents of the United States. 1892. p.60.
- ^ The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. 1904. p.
- Original text based on White House biography
- Sarah Polk
Honorary titles | ||
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Preceded by Julia Gardiner Tyler |
First Lady of the United States 1845–1849 |
Succeeded by Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor |