Thomas Polk
| Thomas Polk | |
|---|---|
Reenactor Jim Williams portraying Thomas Polk at the 20 May 2014 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Commemoration at Founder’s Square, Charlotte, North Carolina.
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| Born | 1732 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | 1794 (aged 61–62) Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Buried at | Old Settlers' Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina (35°13′47″N 80°50′35″W / 35.2296°N 80.8431°WCoordinates: 35°13′47″N 80°50′35″W / 35.2296°N 80.8431°W) |
| Allegiance |
Kingdom of Great Britain Continental Congress United States of America |
| Service/branch | North Carolina militia Continental Army |
| Years of service | 1775–1778, 1780–1781 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
| Spouse(s) | Susanna Spratt |
| Relations | James K. Polk (Great-nephew), William Polk(son) |
Thomas Polk (c. 1732–January 25, 1794) was a planter, military officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1781, and a politician who served in the North Carolina House of Commons, North Carolina Provincial Congress, and Council of State. Polk commanded the 4th North Carolina Regiment in the Battle of Brandywine. In 1786, Polk was elected by the North Carolina General Assembly to the Congress of the Confederation, but did not attend any of its sessions. Polk was a great-uncle of the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk.
Polk was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania around 1732 to William and Margaret Taylor Polk. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and had been born in the Province of Maryland. In 1753, Polk moved to Anson County, North Carolina. In 1755, he married Susanna Spratt, with whom he would have eight children. In 1765, 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 now Charlotte. During that conflict, speculator Henry McCulloh attempted to have a large tract of land that had been granted to him by the Crown surveyed and subdivided. The settlers in Anson County objected, as McCulloh sought to interfere with what they considered their established rights in the land.
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