Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1844'

(Wednesday, December 4, 1844, during the 1844 United States presidential election) — Former Governor and former U.S. House Speaker James K. Polk of Tennessee was elected President of the United States today, defeating Whig challenger Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky.

Video: 'The Election of 1844 Explained'

Polk and his running mate, former Senator George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania, received 49.5% of the national popular vote. Clay and his running mate, former Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, received 48.1%.

The 1844 popular vote results translated into an Electoral College victory of 170-105 for Polk-Dallas, who would be sworn in to a four-year term on March 4, 1845.