James Pollock was the governor of Pennsylvania and congressman.
Background
He was born on September 11, 1810 at Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States, the son of William and Sarah (Wilson) Pollock, and a grandson of Samuel Pollock who came to America about 1732. William Pollock was a farmer and merchant.
Education
James received his early education at Milton Classical Academy, and graduated with honors from the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1831. He then studied law in the office of Samuel Hepburn at Milton.
Career
In November 1833 he was admitted to the county bar, and subsequently to that of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. In 1834 he opened a law office in Milton and in 1835 was appointed deputy attorney-general for Northumberland County, serving for three years.
In 1844 he was elected as a Whig representative to the Twenty-eighth Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Frick. He was twice reelected, serving in all from April 5, 1844, to March 4, 1849, and retiring of his own accord. While in the House he served as chairman of a special committee appointed to consider the desirability of building a railroad to the Pacific Coast, and on June 23, 1848, presented its report, which constituted the first official recommendation of this project ("Railroad to Oregon") . He was also one of the men who gave encouragement to Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, when he went to Washington to secure assistance from the government.
Pollock was appointed president judge of the eighth judicial district in Pennsylvania, January 15, 1850, and served until the adoption of the amendment to the state constitution making such offices elective. Declining nomination for the office, he returned to the practice of law, but the same year was nominated for the governorship of Pennsylvania by the Whig and Native American ("Know-Nothing") parties, and was elected by a majority of 37, 007 over his Democratic opponent, William Bigler, for the term extending from January 16, 1855, to January 19, 1858.
On the outbreak of the financial crisis of 1857 he aided in restoring public confidence by calling an extra session of the legislature, which passed a bill permitting the state banks to suspend specie payments. At the expiration of his term as governor he refused to become a candidate for reelection and returned to the practice of law. He represented Pennsylvania at the Peace Conference which met in Washington during the winter of 1860-61 to devise a means of averting the impending war.
In May 1861 he was appointed director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia, which office he held until his resignation, October 1, 1866. In 1869 he was again appointed director of the Mint and retained the position until 1873, when a reorganization took place under the Coinage Act of that year and he was made superintendent under R. H. Linderman, director of the Bureau of the Mint. He served as naval officer of customs at Philadelphia, 1879-83, and in 1886 was federal chief supervisor of elections. This was his last public office.
He was a member of the board of trustees of Lafayette College (1855 - 76) and one of the founders and president of the board of trustees of the Pennsylvania Military College at Chester (1862 - 90). He was also a member of various charitable boards and organizations in Philadelphia.
He died at the home of a son-in-law, in Lock Haven.
Achievements
Views
Quotations:
"We claim to be a Christian nation - why should we not vindicate our character by honoring the God of Nations…Our national coinage should do this. Its legends and devices should declare our trust in God - in Him who is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "
Personality
Pollock is said to have been extremely Puritanical in his attitude toward cards and liquor. He was a firm believer in the ancient code of "an eye for an eye, " and for this reason did not mind signing a death warrant.
Quotes from others about the person
According to McClure post, as a lawyer, he "was not up to date and enjoyed only moderate success" .