She was built at Richmond, Virginia, by J.R. Anderson and was an early example of the use of an iron hull in naval construction.

[4] Scheduled for delivery in early 1847, she was finished by Anderson by 3 December 1846 and was tasked by President Polk to serve with the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War.

[1] On 31 March Lieutenant Ogden reported to the Secretary of the Navy that Polk had leaked badly after she stood out to sea and he put into Ocracoke Inlet while temporary repairs were made.

[1] During the fall of 1848 Polk was transferred to Cold Spring, New York, where she was transformed into a barque sail configuration.

After modification of her rigging she was ordered to San Francisco, California, leaving New York on 5 April 1850 and arriving at her destination on 27 September 1850.