Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/373

 POLAND

POLK

Charleston and studied law, his father persuad- ing him against entering the army. He again visited Europe, and was offered a commission in the Russian army by the Czar, which he declined. On his return to the United States he was pro- posed as quartermaster-general of the U.S. army, but upon Secretary Eustis objecting, President Madison withdrew his name and sent him to South America to investigate the condition of the people fighting for independence from Spain, with a view of establishing friendly relations with the revolutionists. While he was in Chili, several American merchant vessels in both the ports of Peru and Cliili were seized by the Spanish authorities of Peru, the people having news of a war between the United States and Spain. Mr. Poinsett was furnished by the re- publican authorities of Chili with a small army with which he recaptured the merchantmen. He was obliged to return to the United States across the Andes, being prevented by the British naval authorities at Valparaiso from embarking by sea, and he arrived home after the declara- tion. He was a representative for several years in the state legislature, and in the 17th and 18th congresses, 1821-25. In congress he advocated the policy of recognition of the riglits of strug- gling republics in South America. He was sent to Mexico by President Monroe on a special mis- sion in 1822, and was U.S. minister to Mexico during the entire administration of J. Q. Adams. He opposed nullification and during the attempt- ed revolution organized a military company in Charleston, which was supplied by order of President Jackson with arms and ammunition from the government stores in Charleston. He was secretary of war in the cabinet of President Van Buren, 1837-41, and upon the expiration of his term of office retired to private life. He was devoted to science and literary pursuits, and made valuable observations and collections of natui-al history specimens which he presented to different scientific societies. The Pomsetta pul- cherina, an indigenous Mexican flower, was named in his honor on his introducing it into the itnited States. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Columbia college in 1825. He founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Charleston, S.C. In 1887 Capt. W. A. Courtenay (q.v.) presented to the city of Charleston a por- trait of Mr. Poinsett, painted by Jarvis. He is the autlior of: Notes on Mexico, made in 1822 vjith an Historical Sketch of the Revolution (1824). He died in Statesburg, S.C, Dec. 12, 1851.

POLAND, Luke Potter, senator, was born in Westford, Vt., Nov. 1,1815; son of Luther and Nancy (Potter) Poland, His father, a carpenter, removed from Brookfield. Mass., to "Westford, Vt., in 1814. and was a representative in the state legis-

lature. Luke Potter Poland attended the public schools and the academy at Jericho until 1832; was a clerk in a country store in Waterville; worked on his father's farm and in the saw mill; taught school at Morristown Vt., for one winter, and studietl law in the office of Samuel A. Willard. He was admitted to the bar in 1836 and practised in Waterville. He was register of pro- bate for Lamoille county, 1839-40; a member of the state constitutional convention in 1843, and state attorney for Lamoille county, 1844-45. He was the unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant- governor on the Free Soil ticket in 1848, a judge of the state supreme court, 1848-60, and chief justice, 1860-66. He removed to St. Johnsbury, and on the death of Senator Jacob Collamer in 1865 was chosen by the legislature to fill the un- expired term, terminating March 3, 1867. He was a representative in the 40th-43d congresses, 1867-75; was a member of the judiciary com- mittee; had charge of the bankruptcy bill, secur- ing its passage, and obtained the passage June 3, 1874, of the act to revise and consolidate the statutes of the United States. He was chairman of the committee to investigate the Kuklux outrages; chairman of the Credit Mobilier inves- tigating committee, and chairman of the special committee to investigate the troubles in Arkan- sas, his report being in direct antagonism to the views of President Grant. He was chairman of the state delegation to the Republican national convention of 1876, declined to permit the use of his name for vice-president and secured the nom- ination of William A. Wheeler. He was a repre- sentative from St. Johnsbury in the state legisla- ture in 1878, and in 1882 he unsuccessfully con- tested Senator Morrill's seat in the U. S. senate. He was a Republican representative from the second district of Vermont in the 48th congress, 1883-85, by 804 majority. He was twice married: first, Jan. 12, 1838, to Martha Smith, daughter of Dr. William Page of Waterville; she died in April, 1854, and he was married, secondly, to Adelia H. Page, her sister. The honorary degree of A. M. was conferred on him by the University of Ver- mont in 1857, and that of LL.D. in 1861. He was a trustee of the University of Vermont, 1879-88, and the founder of the Westford scholarship in honor of his native town. He died in Water- ville, Vt., July 2, 1887.

POLK, Charles, governor of Delaware, was born near Bridgeville, Sussex county, Del. , Nov. 14, 1788; son of Charles, and grandson of Charles Polk. His father died when he was a boj', and he studied law under Kensey Johns, but never practised. He represented Sussex county in the state legislature in 1813 and 1815, removed to Kent county, Del., in 1816, and subsequently rep- resented that countv in the state legislature.