Trusten Polk

"Senator Polk" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Polk (disambiguation).

Trusten W. Polk (May 29, 1811 – April 16, 1876) served as the 12th Governor of Missouri in 1857 and U.S. Senator from 1857 to 1862.

Trusten Polk
United States Senator from Missouri
In office March 4, 1857 – January 10, 1862
Preceded by	Henry S. Geyer
Succeeded by	John B. Henderson
12th Governor 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.
Political 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

Biography

Polk was born in Bridgeville, Delaware. A Democrat, he was elected Governor of Missouri in 1856 and served from January 5, 1857, until February 27 when he resigned to become a U.S. Senator. Hancock Lee Jackson succeeded him as governor until the election of Robert Marcellus Stewart.

Polk was expelled from the U.S. Senate January 10, 1862, for his support of the South in the American Civil War. He was appointed as a colonel in the Missouri State Guard under the command of Confederate General Sterling Price, and later served as a judge in the military courts of the Department of Mississippi in 1864 and 1865.

After the war, Polk was a lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri. He is buried there in Bellefontaine Cemetery following his death on April 16, 1876, aged 64.

See also

• List of United States senators expelled or censured

External links

• United States Congress. "Trusten Polk (id: P000411)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-14
• "Trusten Polk". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
• Trusten Polk at the National Governors Association