The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Polk, Frank Lyon

POLK, pōk, Frank Lyon, American lawyer, b. New York, 13 Sept. 1871. In 1894 he was graduated at Yale University and three years later at the Columbia Law School. In 1897 he began his practice in New York City, was member of the civil service commission of New York in 1907-09, and in 1907 and 1910 was member of the New York board of education. On 24 Jan. 1914 Mayor Mitchel appointed him corporation counsel, in which office he remained until his appointment on 16 Sept. 1915 as counsellor for the Department of State at Washington. During Secretary Lansing's absence in Europe as delegate to the Peace Conference, Mr. Polk was acting Secretary of State.