Background
POLK, Frank L. was born on September 13, 1871 in New York, New York, United States. Son of William Mecklenburg and Ida A. (Lyon) Polk.
POLK, Frank L. was born on September 13, 1871 in New York, New York, United States. Son of William Mecklenburg and Ida A. (Lyon) Polk.
G.s. Leonidas P., “the fighting bishop”. Graduate Groton School, 1890. Bachelor of Arts, Yale, 1894, honorary Master of Arts, 1918.
Bachelor of Laws, Columbia, 1897. Honorary Doctor of Civil Law, University of the South, Sewanee, 1928. Doctor of Laws, Rollins, 1930.
Doctor of Laws, New York University, 1935.
Began practice in New York City, 1897. President Civil Service communications of New York, 1908-1909. Corporate Counsel, 1914-1915.
Counselor for Department of State, 1915-1919. Under secretary of State, 1919-1920. Acting secretary of State, December 4, 1918-July 18, 1919.
Appointed commissioner plenipotentiary of the United States to negotiate peace, July 17, 1919. Head of America delegation to Peace Conference at Paris, July 28-December 9, 1919. Director N.P. Ry Company.
Trustee Bowery Savings Bank, United States Trust Company, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York President and trustee Public Library. Trustee Cathedral of St. John.
Member, New York Civil Service Commission, 1907-1909, President, 1908-1909. New York Corporation Counsel, 1914-1915. Counselor, Department of State (United States), 1915-1919.
Under-Secy, of State, 1919-1920. Acting Secy, of State, 1918-1919. Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States to negotiate Peace, and Head of American Delegation to Peace Conference at Paris, July-Dee.
1919 Member Board of Trustees, New York Public Library. Governor New York Hospital, Society of Lyingin Hospital. Director Manhattan Maternity Hospital and Disp., Milbank Memorial Fund.
Trustee, New York Orthopaedic Hospital, Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Cathedral St. John the Divine, Chase National Bank, Bowery Savings Bank, United States Trust Company Decorations: Grand Commander, Legion of Honor, France. Grand Commander, Order of Leopold, Belgium. First Class Poland Restituta.
Grand Cross. Order of Crown, Roumania. Member of New York City, New York State and American Bar Associations. New York Company Lawyers Association.
Pilgrim Society; Sons of Revolution. New York Southern Society. Order of Cincinnati; Sons of Revolution.
Aztec Society Clubs: Knickerbocker, Yale. University, Down Town. Broad St., Piping Rock, Deepdale, Century, Brook, Racquet and Tennis, Turf and Field Recess (New York), Metropolitan, Chevy Chase (Washington).
Married Elizabeth Sturgis Potter, 1908. Children: John M., Elizabeth S. (Mistress Raymond Guest), Frank L., James P., Alice P. (Mistress Winthrop Rutherford Junior.