Sarah Childress Polk

Sarah Childress Polk
First Lady of the United States
In role March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
President	James K. Polk
Preceded by	Julia Tyler
Succeeded by	Margaret Taylor
First Lady of Tennessee
In role October 14, 1839 – October 15, 1841
Governor	James K. Polk
Preceded by	Rachel Cannon
Succeeded by	Sarah Jones
Personal details
Born	Sarah Childress (1803-09-04)September 4, 1803 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	August 14, 1891(1891-08-14) (aged 87) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting place	Tennessee State Capitol Nashville, Tennessee
Spouse	James Polk ​ ​ (m. 1824; died 1849)​
Relations	Sarah Polk Fall (grandniece)
Education	Salem 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.