James Knox Polk Won A Seat In the Tennessee Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives When He Was Young

Polk had already made up his mind to run for the Tennessee House of Representatives by the time the legislature closed its session in September 1822. He had plenty of time to campaign, as the election wasn't until August 1823, almost a year away. He was commissioned in the Tennessee militia as a captain in the cavalry unit of the 5th Brigade and was already active locally as a Mason. Later, he was given the title “Colonel” and served as the staff colonel under Governor William Carroll. The young politician ran a vigorous campaign, even though many of the voters belonged to the Polk family. Polk gained the moniker “Napoleon of the Stump” due to the popularity of his speeches. Polk defeated William Yancey at the polls when he offered his supporters alcoholic drinks. Polk won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1825.

Polk began courting Sarah Childress in early 1822; they were engaged the following year and were married on January 1st, 1824, in Murfreesboro. Sarah Polk came from one of Tennessee's most illustrious families and was significantly more educated than other women of her era, especially in frontier Tennessee. Sarah supported her husband's political career by helping him with his speeches, offering him counsel on issues of policy, and participating actively in his campaigns. Sarah Polk's grace, intelligence, and endearing discourse, according to Rawley, helped make up for her husband's frequently stern demeanor.