Luke Potter POLAND, Congress, VT (1815-1887)

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.

Bibliography

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present