Trusten Polk | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| c. 1860 – c. 1865 portrait of Polk, byMathew Brady | |
| United States Senator fromMissouri | |
| In office March 4, 1857 – January 10, 1862 | |
| Preceded by | Henry S. Geyer |
| Succeeded by | John B. Henderson |
| 12thGovernor of Missouri | |
| In office January 5, 1857 – February 27, 1857 | |
| Lieutenant | Hancock Lee Jackson |
| Preceded by | Sterling Price |
| Succeeded by | Hancock Lee Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1811-05-29)May 29, 1811 Bridgeville, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 1876(1876-04-16) (aged 64) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Skinner |
| Education | Yale University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Missouri State Guard |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Trusten W. Polk (May 29, 1811 – April 16, 1876) was an American politican. He served asgovernor of Missouri in 1857, and was a member of theUnited States Senate fromMissouri, from 1857 to 1862.
Polk was born on May 29, 1811, inBridgeville, Delaware, to William Nutter Polk and Levinia Causey Polk. He was a member of thePolk family and distant cousin of PresidentJames K. Polk.[1] He first attendedcommon schools, graduating fromYale College in 1831. He planned to become a minister, though his father suggested he become a lawyer. He studied law underDelaware Attorney GeneralJames Rogers and attendedYale Law School for two years. In 1835, he wasadmitted to the bar.[2][3][4]
In 1835, Polk moved toSt. Louis. There, he practiced law, serving as St. Louis City Counselor in 1843.[2] He also helped GovernorHenry S. Geyer in the establishment of theUniversity of Missouri School of Medicine. Between 1835 and fall 1845, he left Missouri due to illness, durong which he studied education in other regions of North America.[5]
Polk also involved himself in politics as aDemocrat. In 1845, was a delegate to the Missouri State constitutional convention, then in 1848 was a Missouri Democratic presidential elector.[3] In 1854, he unsucessfully ran for theUnited States House of Representatives.[2]
Polk was inaugurated as governor of Missouri from January 5, 1857. He served until February 27, resigning in order to be seated in the United States Senate. His tenure as Governor is the shortest in Missouri history, at 53 days.[2] He served as Senator beginning on March 4, 1857. On January 10, 1862, he and fellow Missouri SenatorWaldo P. Johnson wereexpelled due to their support of theConfederate States of America during theAmerican Civil War.[3]
Polk was a supporter oftemperance movement, with him heading a temperance group beginning in 1836.[2] He also supportedhard currency.[6] He was a slaveowner[7] and was the first Missouri Governor to actively support slavery, though he more actively supported it while in the Senate.[2] Though from Missouri, he was a member of the "Central Clique", a group of conservative politicians from the loosely-definedMid-Missouri.[2]
After his expulsion from the Senate, Polk served in theMissouri State Guard and was ranked colonel. During the war, his family was exiled from St. Louis. In 1863, he was captured byUnion Army forces and imprisoned atJohnson's Island; he became ill while imprisoned. He was later released, in exchanged for a Union prisoner in Mississippi. Through 1864 and 1865, he served as a judge inMisssippi'scourt-martial.[2]
After the war, Polk moved to Mexico for some time. He returned to St. Louis to reunite with his family and continue his law practice.[3] On December 26, 1837, he married Elizabeth Skinner, with whom he had five children.[2] He died on April 16, 1876, aged 64, in St. Louis,[5] from heart disease.[8] He is buried inBellefontaine Cemetery.[3]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Missouri 1856 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Missouri 1857 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Missouri 1857–1862 Served alongside:James S. Green,Waldo P. Johnson | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
