POLIZIANO. 203 POLK. was received in a flattering manner by the Pope, at whose request he transhited into Latin the Greek historian Herodianus. for which he re- ceived 200 gold crowns. He also made Latin versions of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, the Charmides of Plato, and other works, with such elegance that Erasmus pronoiniced him a master in translation. After having filled for some years a chair of Latin literature in Florence, he com- menced the teaching of Greek. His popularity was so great that pupils came to study under him from all the great cities of Italy, and even from distant parts of Europe : the principal were Fran- cesco Pucci. Fortigiierra, ilaflei da Volterra, Grocyn, Thomas Linacre, and Michelangelo. In 1489 appeared his HisceUanea, a collection of critical and other observations on the ancient authors. Toward the close of his life he entered into orders, and was made canon of the Cathedral of Florence. He died September 24. 1494. Among the brilliant scholars of the Italian Renaissance. Poliziano occupies a fore- most place in virtue of his vigor and originality. While he admired the chaste and noble literature of antiquity, there was nothing servile in his imitations; he reproduced without difficulty the strength of Tacitus, the elegance of Li'y, and the conciseness of Sallust: his Latin poems, especially his elegies, display the beauty and ardor of his imagination. Among his vernacular pieces may be mentioned his Canti caniaffialeschi (Carnival Ballads), remarkable for their felicity of style, sweetness of pathos, and abundance of imagery. Another proof of his varied poetical power was his Orfeo, one of the earliest dramatic composi- tions produced in Italy. Consult: Serassi, Vita di Angela Poliziano (Milan, 1808) ; Bona- fons. De A. Politiani Vila el Operibusi (Paris, 184.5) ; Gresswell. Life of Politian (London, IS05) ; Roscoe. Life of Lorenzo de' Medici (10th ed., ib., 1831) : and the two works of Symonds, The Renaissance in Itnlij (ib.. 187.5-8(3), and Sketches and Studies in Italy (ib.. 1879). POLK, pok. .J.iiES Kxox (179.5-1849). The eleventh President of the United States, born in Mecklenburg County. X. C., Xovember 2. 1795. His ancestors, who bore the name of Pollock, emi- grated from the north of Ireland early in the eighteenth century. Polk graduated at the L'ni- Tersity of Xorth Carolina in 1818: then studied law with Felix Grundy (q.v.) of Tennessee, and was admitted to the liar in 1820. Three years later he was elected a member of the Legislature of Tennessee, and soon afterwards (1825) was sent to Congress by the Democratic Party, serv- ing as Speaker in the Twenty-fourth and Twenty- fifth Congresses. In Congress he won distinction by his industrious habits and readiness in debate. During the administration of President .Jackson he was one of his chief supporters, and gave the same loyal support to .Jackson's successor, Martin ^'an P.uren. As Speaker it devolved upon him to preside over the deliberations of the Rep- resentatives at a time when party feelings were bitter, and his rulings were frequently appealed from, although usually sustained liy the House. After fourtsen years in Congress he was. in 1839, elected Governor of Tennessee, and was.nominated for the office as;ain in 1841 and 1S43. but was each time defe.itcd by the Mug candidate. Xever- theless. his standing among his party associates was not impaired, and when the vigorous opposi- tion to Van Buren made impossible the latter'.s Vol. XVI.— 14. nomination for the Presidency in 1844, especially under the rule which required a majority of two- thirds of all the delegates to the national con- vention to nominate, Polk was introduced as a compromise candidate and was unanimously nominated on the ninth ballot. The Whig can- didate, Henry Clay, had compromised himself in .some sections by his attitude in regard to the annexation of Texas, while the Democratic platform was moderateh' acceptable to both X'orth and South through "its advocacy of the 're- occupation of Oregon and the reannexation of Texas.' Polk received 170 electoral votes, as against 105 for Clay. George M. Dallas was elected Vice-President. During his term the Ore- gon boundary dispute was settled with England, the L'nited States accepting the parallel of 49" as the northern limit, though the party cry which helped to elect Polk was a claim for the entire territory to latitude 54° 40' X. A dispute regarding the boundary of Texas caused, in 1846, a war with Jlexico, which resulted in the acquisition, through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (q.v.), of California and Xew ilexico. The chief event of President Polk's internal ad- ministration was the enactment of the tariff law of 1846, which was based on the principles of tariff for revenue only, and the establishment of the independent treasury system. The Presi- dent set himself against the internal improve- ment mania by vetoing a river and harbor bill, which appropriated a large sum for improve- ment purposes. As regards the slaverj' ques- tion, the debate over the Wilmot Proviso (q.v.) and over the bill to organize the Territory of Oregon were the most notable events. In private life President Polk was unostentatious, frank, and courteous. His habits were extremely sim- ple, and his character was blameless. He died at Xashville, Tenn., June 15, 1849. His biography, including especially a review of his administra- tion, was written by .T. S. .Jenkins (Auburn. 1850). A number of his manuscripts and other papers have recently been acquired by the Chi- cago Historical Society, and his MS. diary may be foimd in the Lenox Library, Xew York City. See United States. POLK, Leo.n-idas (1806-64). An American soldier and first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana. He was born at Raleigh. X. C. edu- cated at the I'niversity of Xorth Carolina and at West Point Military Academy. While at West Point he came under the influence of Dr. McII- vaine, afterwards Bishop of Ohio, and was con- verted. After graduation he resigned from the service, and prepared for the ministry at the theological seminary at Alexandria. Va.. being ordained at Richmond in 18.30, After a year of church work he traveled in Europe to benefit his health. Upon his return he removed to Tennessee, and in 1838 the General Convention appointed him Missionary Bishop of the Southwest — a field embracing Arkansas, Indian Territory. Missis- sippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. He retained this post until elected Bishop of Louisiana in 1841. He formulated a scheme for higher education in the South which finally resulted in the establish- ment of Sewanee University, a charter for which was granted by the State of Tennessee in 18.58. At the outbreak of the Civil War his sympathies were wholly with the Southern cause. His trav- els in pursuance of episcopal duties made him thoroughlv familiar with the Lower Mississippi
