Cave Johnson

Cave Johnson


12th United States Postmaster General
In office March 6, 1845 – March 4, 1849
President	James K. Polk
Preceded by	Charles A. Wickliffe
Succeeded by	Jacob Collamer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 9th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	Harvey M. Watterson
Succeeded by	Lucien B. Chase
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 11th district
In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Richard Cheatham
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Richard Cheatham
Succeeded by	Milton Brown
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 8th district
In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833
Preceded by	John Hartwell Marable
Succeeded by	David W. Dickinson
Personal details
Born	(1793-01-11)January 11, 1793 Robertson County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	November 23, 1866(1866-11-23) (aged 73) Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Dortch Brunson
Alma mater	Cumberland College
Profession	Politician

Cave Johnson (January 11, 1793 – November 23, 1866) was for fourteen years a Democratic U.S. Congressman from Tennessee.

Johnson was born on January 11, 1793.

He acted as one of the campaign managers for presidential candidate James K. Polk at both the Democratic party convention and for the general election. After his victory Polk appointed him United States Postmaster General, a post in which he served from 1845–1849. He was born in Robertson County, Tennessee, and died in Clarksville, Tennessee.

During his tenure at United States Postmaster General he shifted the postal service from a collect on delivery postage delivery system to a prepaid postal delivery system by introducing the postage stamp in 1847. He is also credited with introducing street corner mail boxes in urban areas. He later served as president of the Bank of Tennessee from 1854 to 1860.

Johnson died on November 23, 1866.