历届美国总统介绍:第11任总统 詹姆斯诺克斯波尔克

 　　James Knox Polk was America's eleventh President. He was born in North Carolina, in 1795. He was the eldest¹ of ten children. His father traded in slaves and was a farmer. Studious and industrious², 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 lieutenant³ of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee. Polk became the Democratic nominee⁴ for Vice⁵ President in 1844 after arguing for the annexation⁶ 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。

　　詹姆斯·诺克斯·波尔克.jpgAs President, Polk threatened war with Britain over annexing⁷ 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 oversaw⁸ the opening of the Smithsonian Institute and the U.S. Naval⁹ Academy, and the groundbreaking for the Washington Monument. The first U.S. postage stamps were also issued during his presidency¹⁰. Historians call him America's "least known consequential¹¹ president". He died of cholera¹² 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。

1 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

2 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

3 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 annexation   

n.吞并，合并

参考例句：

• He mentioned the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910 .他提及1910年日本对朝鲜的吞并。
• I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas.我认为合并的问题，完全属于德克萨斯和美国之间的事。

7 annexing   

并吞( annex的现在分词 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）

参考例句：

• In addition to annexing territory, they exacted huge indemnities. 割地之外，又索去了巨大的赔款。
• He succeeded in annexing all the property of Hindley's and the Linton's. 他成功的占有了亨得利和林顿的所有财产。

8 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

9 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

11 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

12 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。