Today in American History…Sarah Childress was born on September 4, 1803 to Elizabeth and Joel Childress at their plantation home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Sarah Childress and James Polk were formally introduced by Andrew Jackson – who just so happened to be a close acquaintance of Sarah Childress. Legend has it that Andrew Jackson urged James Polk to marry Sarah and referred to her as “wealthy, pretty, ambitious, and intelligent.” The couple were engaged in 1823 and married at her family’s plantation home on January 1, 1824.

For the era, Sarah Polk was a well educated woman. She had attended the exclusive Moravians’ Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, NC in 1817 – which was just one of few schools in the US at the time that allowed women to enroll and attend.

Mrs Polk became First Lady when her husband was sworn in on March 4, 1845 as our eleventh US President. Several First Ladies throughout history, including, Mrs Polk, have been very much a strong influence and active behind the scenes when it came to their husband’s political careers. Mrs Polk was one of the first First Ladies to take an active role in her husband’s electoral process and campaign. She was known to be charming, intelligent and a good conversationalist. They had from all accounts a true partnership and he relied on her very much from typing his official correspondence, speaking to world leaders and sharing with her issues pertaining to the government while in office.

She was also very pious and observant of her faith. Mrs Polk was a devout Presbyterian and unlike the previous administration of President John Tyler, Mrs Polk banned dancing, hard liquor and card games at official receptions. Unlike former First Lady Julia Tyler’s entertaining receptions, The Polk’s receptions were very dull and subdued. Some even referred to Mrs Polk as “Sahara Sarah.”

Sarah Polk was the very first First Lady to be photographed at The White House. She is also the first First Lady to have had a picture taken alongside her husband while he was in office.

The Polk’s retired from public office in 1849 and returned to Tennessee. He had the shortest retirement of any former President and passed away on June 15, 1849. According to traditional accounts of the time, his last words were to his wife telling “I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you.”

Sarah Polk passed away in Nashville, Tennessee on August 14, 1891.