Celebrating Presidents' Day: James K. Polk

Hon. Mr. Polk
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Since it's Presidents' Day, not Washington or Lincoln's birthday, I like to pick a different president every year. This year, James K. Polk (1795-1849; President, 1845-49) from the State of Tennessee is my selection

Now, in addition to his other numerous achievements, I'd like to point as as the Historical Polk fact for the day, that on August 10, 1846, President Polk signed the legislation that established the Smithsonian Institution as a trust to be administered by a Board of Regents and a Secretary of the Smithsonian.

The rest, as they say, was history ...