James Knox Polk was America's eleventh President.He was born in North Carolina, in 1795. He was theeldest of ten children. His father traded in slaves andwas a farmer. Studious and industrious, Polkgraduated with honors in 1818 from the University ofNorth Carolina. As a young lawyer he enteredpolitics, served in the Tennessee legislature, andbecame a friend of Andrew Jackson.

詹姆斯·诺克斯·波尔克（James Knox Polk）是美国第11任总统。波尔克1795年出生在北卡罗来纳州。他家里有十个孩子，他是老大。他的父亲曾参加过奴隶贸易，是个种植园主。波尔克学习勤奋，1818年，他便以优异的成绩从北卡罗来纳大学毕业。后来，他又以年轻律师的身份进入美国政坛，就职于田纳西州立法机关，并与安德鲁·杰克逊成为朋友。

In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. Heserved as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee. Polkbecame the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1844 after arguing for the annexation ofTexas and Oregon. He won the 1844 presidential election to become the first "dark horse"president.

波尔克曾在美国众议院担任杰克逊的首席中尉，参与抵制银行活动。他1835年至1839年担任众议院议长，1839年任田纳西州州长。波尔克1844年主张美国合并得克萨斯及俄勒冈。他后来被民主党提名为美国副总统。他在1844年美国总统大选中胜出，成为美国首位“黑马”总统。

As President, Polk threatened war with Britain over annexing Oregon. A treaty was signed in1846 after the British settled for land north of the 49th parallel, which today is the Canadaborder. Polk fought a war with Mexico between 1846 and 1848. American forces won repeatedvictories and gained New Mexico and California for the USA. Polk also tried to buy Cuba fromSpain in 1848 but was unsuccessful.

作为美国总统，波尔克曾就美国合并俄勒冈一事威胁英国，说要与英国开火。英国人1846年与美国签订协议，在北纬49度以北的地方(如今这里是加拿大边境)定居。1846年至1848年，波尔克和墨西哥开战。美国军队再次获得胜利，夺得了新墨西哥州和加利福尼亚州。波尔克1848年还试图从西班牙手中购买古巴，但失败了。

Polk left office due to bad health in 1849. He had promised to serve only one term. He oversawthe opening of the Smithsonian Institute and the U.S. Naval Academy, and the groundbreakingfor the Washington Monument. The first U.S. postage stamps were also issued during hispresidency. Historians call him America's "least known consequential president". He died ofcholera on June 15, 1849.

波尔克1849年由于身体不适，卸任美国总统这一职务。波尔克承诺过只担任一届美国总统。他曾亲临美国史密森研究院和美国海军学院的开幕式，及华盛顿纪念碑的开工典礼。波尔克在任期间还发行了第一套美国邮票。历史学家称他为“功成身退的美国总统”。波尔克1849年6月15日得霍乱逝世。