James K. Polk

Polk served seven terms to the U.S. Congress, one term as governor of Tennessee, and was a strong supporter of fellow Tennessean Andrew Jackson. He won the 1844 U.S. Presidential election against Henry Clay, the Whig candidate, by an extremely narrow margin of the popular vote. During his sole term, he worked to expand the boundaries of the United States, first annexing Texas and then working out a compromise with Great Britain to obtain Oregon. Polk took an active role in the Mexican War, supervising all elements of the war, including the plan of attack, troop movement, supply purchases, and the political leanings of his generals.