James Knox Polk was born in Pineville and graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. Leaving his law practice behind, he served in the Tennessee legislature, where he became friends with Andrew Jackson. Polk moved from the Tennessee legislature to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1825 to 1839 and speaker of the house. He left the house of representatives to become governor of Tennessee.
Leading into the presidential election of 1844, Polk was the frontrunner for the Democratic vice presidency and sought to expand the United