Sarah Childress Polk, born on September 4, 1803 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was the wife of the eleventh President of the United States, James K. Polk. She attended the Moravians 'Female Academy' in Salem, North Carolina, where she received an exclusive education that would shape her future as a prominent First Lady.
Little did Sarah know that she would meet her future husband at the young age of twelve. James K. Polk would later become the love of her life and the father figure to her nephew and orphaned niece.
At the age of 20, Sarah married James K. Polk in 1824. Despite not having any children of her own, Sarah took on the responsibility of raising her nephew, Marshall Tate Polk, and caring for her orphaned niece, Sarah Polk Jetton. Her dedication to her family was evident in the way she embraced her role as a mother figure to the children she cared for.
From 1845 to 1849, Sarah served as the twelfth First Lady of the United States. Her husband, James K. Polk, was known for his ambitious presidency, which included the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of California and the Southwest. As First Lady, Sarah supported her husband's political endeavors and was a prominent figure in Washington society.
Even after her husband's death, Sarah remained a respected figure in American history. Her legacy lives on in the impact she made as a devoted wife, mother figure, and First Lady of the United States.