James K. Polk was born on November 2, 1795, in North Carolina. He served as the 11th president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. A strong believer in Manifest Destiny, Polk oversaw significant territorial expansion, including the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the acquisition of California and the Southwest following the Mexican-American War. Before his presidency, he served as Speaker of the House and governor of Tennessee. Polk fulfilled all his major campaign promises and chose not to seek a second term. He died shortly after leaving office on June 15, 1849.