POLAND, Luke Potter

1815–1887

Biography

POLAND, Luke Potter, a Senator and a Representative from Vermont; born in Westford, Vt., November 1, 1815; attended the common schools and Jericho Academy; taught school; studied law; admitted to the bar in December 1836 and practiced in Morrisville, Vt.; register of probate 1839-1840; member of the State constitutional convention in 1843; prosecuting attorney of Lamoille County 1844-1845; judge of the supreme court of Vermont 1848-1860, chief justice 1860-1865, when he resigned; appointed and subsequently elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Jacob Collamer and served from November 21, 1865, to March 3, 1867; elected to the Fortieth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1867-March 3, 1875); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Forty-fourth Congress; chairman, Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business (Fortieth Congress), Committee on Revision of the Laws (Fortieth, Forty-first and Forty-third Congresses); member, Vermont house of representatives 1878; trustee of the University of Vermont at Burlington and of the State Agricultural College; president of the First National Bank of St. Johnsbury for twenty years; elected as a Republican to the Forty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885); was not a candidate for renomination; died at his country home near Waterville, Lamoille County, Vt., July 2, 1887; interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

View Record in the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

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External Research Collections

Idaho State Historical Society

Boise, ID
Papers: 1867. 1 letter. To President Johnson requesting that Colonel R.B. Carpenter be appointed governor of Idaho Territory.

University of Rochester
Rush Rhees Library

Rochester, NY
Papers: 2 letters by and 1 to Poland (1868) in various collections. Finding aid.

University of Vermont
Bailey/Howe Library

Burlington, VT
Papers: 1 folder. 2 letters and photographs.

Vermont Historical Society

Montpelier, VT
Papers: 1860-1887. 1 inch. Business and congressional papers and correspondence.
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