1. In 1786, Thomas Polk was elected by the North Carolina General Assembly to the Congress of the Confederation, but did not attend any of its sessions.
15 Facts About Thomas Polk
1. 2.
Thomas Polk was born in Cumberland County, Province of Pennsylvania around 1732 to William and Margaret Taylor Thomas Polk.
3.
Thomas Polk's father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and had been born in the Province of Maryland.
4.
In 1765, Thomas Polk participated in the War of Sugar Creek, in which local settlers took up arms against large private landholders who were speculating on real estate in the area of what is Charlotte.
5.
The settlers were not ultimately successful, and many, including Thomas Polk himself, purchased land from McCulloh or were otherwise bribed into cooperation.
6.
Thomas Polk was given a position as a commissioner for the new town of Charlotte due to McCulloh's influence, and served as McCulloh's land agent in the newly created Mecklenburg County.
7.
Thomas Polk served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1766 to 1771.
8.
In 1772, Thomas Polk surveyed the border between North and South Carolina.
9.
Thomas Polk was then elected a member of the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress, which established a government in the absence of Royal Governor Josiah Martin.
10.
In late 1775 Thomas Polk participated as a colonel of Patriot militia in the Snow Campaign, which sought to suppress Loyalist recruiting in the South Carolina Upcountry.
11.
Thomas Polk lost his command of the 4th North Carolina Regiment when, in a reduction of forces, it was combined with the 2nd North Carolina Regiment.
12.
Thomas Polk acted as commissary for the Salisbury district, one of North Carolina's militia recruiting divisions, often using his personal assets and credit to provide supplies for the Patriot cause.
13.
Thomas Polk declined the appointment, citing his age and family responsibilities.
14.
In 1783 and 1784, Thomas Polk was elected to the North Carolina Council of State, which assisted the governors in performing their executive duties.
15.
Thomas Polk's home accommodated President George Washington overnight during his 1791 tour of the southern states.