Sarah Childress Polk

Sarah Childress Polk
First Lady of the United States
In role
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
PresidentJames K. Polk
Preceded byJulia Tyler
Succeeded byMargaret Taylor
First Lady of Tennessee
In role
October 14, 1839 – October 15, 1841
GovernorJames K. Polk
Preceded byRachel Cannon
Succeeded bySarah Jones
Personal details
Born
Sarah Childress

(1803-09-04)September 4, 1803
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedAugust 14, 1891(1891-08-14) (aged 87)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting placeTennessee State Capitol
Nashville, Tennessee
Spouse
(m. 1824; died 1849)
RelationsSarah Polk Fall (grandniece)
EducationSalem Academy
Signature

Sarah Childress Polk (September 4, 1803 – August 14, 1891) was the first lady of the United States from 1845 to 1849. She was the wife of the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk.

Well educated in a successful family, Sarah met her future husband at a young age. They never had children of their own, though they did foster relatives. Socially keen and well informed, Sarah helped her husband's career with her hosting skills and advised him on political matters at times, though she stayed out of the public limelight. Following her husband's death in 1849, Sarah had a 42-year widowhood, the longest of any First Lady.