Charles Polk, Jr.

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Charles Polk, Jr.
Charles Polk, Jr.
In office
July 11, 1836 – January 17, 1837
Preceded by Caleb P. Bennett
Succeeded by Cornelius P. Comegys
In office
January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830
Preceded by Samuel Paynter
Succeeded by David Hazzard
Born November 14, 1788(1788-11-14)
Bridgeville, Delaware
Died October 27, 1857 (aged 68)
Milford, Delaware
Political party Federalist
Whig
Spouse Mary Elizabeth Purnell
Residence Kent County, Delaware
Occupation farmer
Religion Presbyterian

Charles Polk, Jr. (November 14, 1788 – October 27, 1857) was an American farmer and politician from Big Stone Beach, in Milford Hundred, Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, and later the Whig Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and twice as Governor of Delaware.

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[edit] Early life and family

Polk was born November 14, 1788 near Bridgeville, Delaware, son of Charles and Mary Manlove Polk. The Polk family originally came from Scotland and U.S. President James K. Polk was a distant cousin. Robert Polk settled in Somerset County, Maryland in 1660 and the Delaware family descended from him. Charles Polk, Sr. was a veteran of the American Revolution, having served in Colonel David Hall's regiment in 1777. He was a large landowner in the Bridgeville area, served eight years in the State House, and was a member of the Delaware Constitutional Convention of 1792.

After his father's death in 1795, Charles, Jr. attended Westtown Boarding School in Chester County, Pennsylvania and then studied Law with Kensey Johns, Sr., but never practiced. By 1812 he was the owner of the Knife and Fork Tavern near Bridgeville. He married Mary Elizabeth Purnell and they had nine children, including, Charles, William Alexander, and Theodore. In 1816 Polk purchased a large tract of land at Big Stone Beach, near Milford, in what is now Milford Hundred, in Kent County, Delaware. He established his residence there on Delaware Bay. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.

[edit] Political career

Polk was a member of the Federalist Party, which was the majority party in Kent and Sussex County, but was nearly matched in popularity statewide by the Democratic-Republican Party because of that party's strength in New Castle County. As a result statewide elections were usually close and hard fought. Delaware was the last state in the country to have an effective Federalist Party, it having virtually disappeared everywhere else. By 1827 members of the old Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party had split into a Jacksonian, or Democratic faction or an Adams/Clay faction, known initially as the National Republicans, and later as Whigs. The remaining Federalists, which were many in Delaware, did likewise.

Polk, and most of the Federalists in Delaware, joined the Adams/Clay faction, and began a National Republican, then Whig ascendancy in Delaware politics. Like the Federalists, the Whigs were especially strong in Kent and Sussex County, but were nearly matched by the new Democratic Party majority in New Castle. The upstate /downstate competition continued as before, just under new names.

Polk first represented Sussex County, and served two terms in the State House in the 1814 and 1815 sessions. After moving to Kent County he was elected to the State House again, this time from Kent County. He served two more terms in the 1818 and 1824 sessions. Polk was also elected to the Kent County Levy Court in 1819. In 1824 he was elected to the State Senate and served one term including the 1825, 1826 and 1827 sessions. He was the Speaker in the 1826 session.

[edit] Governor of Delaware

In 1826, the Federalist Party selected Polk as their candidate for Governor, and after a hard fought campaign, he was elected, narrowly defeating the Democratic-Republican candidate, David Hazzard. He served one term as Governor of Delaware from January 16, 1827 to January 19, 1830.

Legislation was passed in 1829 that called for the creation of school districts in each hundred throughout the state, with small schools placed within two miles of every student. This was an ambitious and creative plan to improve secondary education developed and promoted by Willard Hall, now the United States District Judge for Delaware. There was some state funding, but the expectation was the localities would supplement it. Many did not.

During Polk's term declining agricultural yields due to worn out soil were a matter of great concern. To address the concern, the Delaware General Assembly hired an expert from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, who provided a good deal of helpful advice on the use of fertilizers. As it happened, the construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was beginning, and some farmers in New Castle County realized the marl obtained from the dredging would enrich their soil. Using this soil, the first peach trees were planted near Delaware City.

Regrettably, many thought the problem lay elsewhere. No doubt, reflecting this thinking Polk, as Governor in 1837, blamed the problem on inadequate labor, saying the problem lay with "the wretched condition of the colored population which infests the state...irresponsible, lawless, and miserable...a migratory tribe without fixed abode, alternatively roving from city to country." He and others were concerned about the large number of free African-Americans and rather than addressing the issue directly, sought to restrict their entry into Delaware. [1]


Delaware General Assembly
(sessions while Governor)
Year Assembly Senate Majority Speaker House Majority Speaker
1827 51st Federalist Henry Whiteley Federalist Archibald Hamilton
1828 52nd Federalist Presley Spruance Federalist William W. Morris
1829 53rd National Republican Presley Spruance National Republican William W. Morris
John Raymond
1835-1836 58th Whig vacant Whig William D. Waples

[edit] Constitution of 1831

A new State Constitution was adopted in 1831. Polk was the President of the convention that adopted it, but the real leader of the conclave was Polk’s former Delaware Secretary of State and good personal friend, U.S. Senator John M. Clayton. This document provided for elections in November, biannual sessions of the Delaware General Assembly, four year terms for Governors and State Senators, and two year terms for State Representatives. Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves. The judicial system was changed as well, reducing the number of judges from nine to five: a Chancellor, a Chief Justice, and three associate justices.

[edit] Later career

After his initial term as Governor, Polk was again elected to the State Senate in 1834, and served in the 1835/36 session as Speaker. As the governor’s constitutional successor, he became Governor again upon the death of Governor Caleb P. Bennett and served the remaining months of Bennett's term from July 11, 1836 until January 17, 1837. Polk then returned to his seat in the State Senate, served in the 1837/38 session, and was reelected for the 1839/40 and 1841/42 sessions. He was once again Speaker in the 1841/42 session.

Polk served as Register of Wills for Kent County from 1843 until 1848, and in 1850, moved to Wilmington, when U.S. President John Tyler brought him out of retirement to spend three years as the Collector for the Port of Wilmington. Finally, he was appointed Commissioner-Judge of the Delaware Supreme Court in August 1857.

[edit] Death and legacy

Polk died October 27, 1857 at his home at Big Stone Beach, in Milford Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, and is buried at the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, which is now on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum in Dover, Delaware. His son, William A. Polk served as the Speaker of the State House in the 1867/68 session.

[edit] Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators had a three year term and State Representatives had a one year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three year term.

After 1831, elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1st. In addition, the terms of State Senators were increased to four years, the terms of State Representatives were increased to two years, and the term of the Governor was increased to four years.

Public Offices
Office Type Location Elected Took Office Left Office notes
State Representative Legislature Dover 1813 January 4, 1814 January 3, 1815
State Representative Legislature Dover 1814 January 3, 1815 January 2, 1816
State Representative Legislature Dover 1817 January 6, 1818 January 5, 1819
State Representative Legislature Dover 1823 January 6, 1824 January 4, 1825
State Senator Legislature Dover 1824 January 4, 1825 January 16, 1827
Governor Executive Dover 1826 January 16, 1827 January 19, 1830
Delegate Convention Dover 1831 November 1831 December 2, 1831 State Constitution
State Senator Legislature Dover 1834 January 6, 1835 January 1, 1839
Governor Executive Dover July 11, 1836 January 19, 1837 acting
State Senator Legislature Dover 1838 January 1, 1839 January 3, 1843
Register of Wills Executive Dover 1843 1848
Collector Executive Wilmington 1850 1853 Port of Wilmington


Delaware General Assembly service
Dates Assembly Chamber Majority Governor Committees District
1814 38th State House Federalist Daniel Rodney Sussex at-large
1815 39th State House Federalist Daniel Rodney Sussex at-large
1818 42nd State House Federalist John Clark Kent at-large
1824 48th State House Federalist Samuel Paynter Kent at-large
1825 49th State Senate Federalist Samuel Paynter Kent at-large
1826 50th State Senate Federalist Samuel Paynter Speaker Kent at-large
1835-1836 58th State Senate Whig Caleb Bennett Speaker Kent at-large
1837-1838 59th State Senate Whig Cornelius P. Comegys Kent at-large
1839-1840 60th State Senate Whig Cornelius P. Comegys Kent at-large
1841-1842 61st State Senate Whig William B. Cooper Speaker Kent at-large


Election results
Year Office Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1826 Governor Charles Polk, Jr. Federalist 4,333 51% David Hazzard Democratic-Republican 4,238 49%

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hoffecker, Carol E [2006]. Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books, p.92. “Journal of the House of Representatives (1837), p. 10” 

[edit] References

  • Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company. 
  • Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6. 
  • Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 
  • Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin. 
  • Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co. ISBN 0-87413-493-5. 
  • Wilson, Emerson. (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company. 

[edit] Images

[edit] External links

[edit] Places with more information


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Government of Delaware