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Born on the level! Born on the square!
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM MECKLENBURG POLK 1758-1834
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His good work and last days in Raleigh
After Griselda died in 1799, Will Polk faced the new century by moving to Raleigh and a new political career.
During the administrations of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, from 1801 to 1825, Polk was a leader of the opposition in North Carolina and a man of growing prestige. Federalists in the Assembly nominated him as their candidate for governor in 1802 but he was defeated by John Baptista Ashe 103 to 49. While he did not make governor, his brother-in-law did. William Hawkins was NC governor during the War of 1812.
Polk became a director and then President of the State Bank of North Carolina from 1811 to 1819. He resigned in order to devote proper attention to his extensive land holdings of 100,000 acres in Tennessee.
He was mayor of Raleigh and was honored as that city’s most illustrious citizen. He stayed busy with speaking engagements and public meetings during his later years. He was active in the American Colonization Society. A forceful advocate of constitutional reform and internal improvements, he headed in 1826 a company to develop navigation of the Neuse River. Feeling that John Quincy Adams was responsible for the death of Federalism, he worked hard to keep Adams out of the White House. He was a leader of the Jackson-Calhoun movement in 1824 and 1828. In 1827 there was another brief attempt to have the Assembly elect him governor.
By 1832 Polk developed second thoughts about Old Hickory’s dictatorial ways and tried to head off Jackson’s choice for his running mate by supporting the Barbour movement against Martin Van Buren.
William Mecklenburg Polk died January 4, 1834, at the age of 75. He was buried with traditional Masonic rites in City Cemetery in the center of Raleigh. At his death Colonel Polk was the last surviving field officer of the North Carolina line in the Revolutionary War. Today both North Carolina and Tennessee have counties named for William Polk.
read more | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
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