美国历届总统简介：第11任总统 詹姆斯诺克斯波尔

美国历届总统简介：第11任总统 詹姆斯诺克斯波尔

James Knox Polk was America's eleventh President. He was born in North Carolina, in 1795. He was the eldest of ten children. His father traded in slaves and was a farmer. Studious and industrious, Polk graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. As a young lawyer he entered politics, served in the Tennessee legislature, and became a friend of Andrew Jackson.

詹姆斯·诺克斯·波尔克是美国第11任总统。1795年，波尔克出生在北卡罗来纳州。他是家里十个孩子的老大。他的父亲是个种植园主，曾参加过奴隶贸易。波尔克学习很勤奋用功，1818年，他以优异的成绩从北卡罗来纳大学毕业。后来，他又以年轻律师的身份进入美国政坛，服务于田纳西州立法机关，并与安德鲁·杰克逊结为朋友。

In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee. Polk became the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1844 after arguing for the annexation of Texas and Oregon. He won the 1844 presidential election to become the first "dark horse" president.

波尔克曾在美国众议院担任杰克逊的首席中尉，参与抵制银行活动。1835年至1839年，他担任众议院议长。1839年任田纳西州州长。1844年，波尔克主张美国合并得克萨斯及俄勒冈，后被民主党提名为美国副总统。他在1844年美国总统大选中胜出，成为美国第一个“黑马”总统。

As President, Polk threatened war with Britain over annexing Oregon. A treaty was signed in 1846 after the British settled for land north of the 49th parallel, which today is the Canada border. Polk fought a war with Mexico between 1846 and 1848. American forces won repeated victories and gained New Mexico and California for the USA. Polk also tried to buy Cuba from Spain in 1848 but was unsuccessful.

身为美国总统的波尔克，曾就美国合并俄勒冈一事威胁英国，说要与英国开火。1846年，英国人在北纬49度以北的地方（如今这里是加拿大边境）定居，并与美国签订协议。1846年至1848年，波尔克和墨西哥开战。美国军队再次获得胜利，夺得了新墨西哥州和加利福尼亚州。1848年，波尔克还试图从西班牙手中购买古巴，但并未成功。

Polk left office due to bad health in 1849. He had promised to serve only one term. He oversaw the opening of the Smithsonian Institute and the U.S. Naval Academy, and the groundbreaking for the Washington Monument. The first U.S. postage stamps were also issued during his presidency. Historians call him America's "least known consequential president". He died of cholera on June 15, 1849.

1849年，波尔克由于身体不适，卸任了美国总统的职务。波尔克承诺过只担任一届美国总统。他曾亲临美国史密森研究院和美国海军学院的开幕式，及华盛顿纪念碑的开工典礼。在他任职美国总统的期间，还发行了第一套美国邮票。历史学家称他为“功成身退的美国总统”。1849年6月15日，波尔克得霍乱逝世。