Pollock, James, 1810-1890

Jurist, public official, governor of and U.S. representative from Pennsylvania.

From the description of Letters of James Pollock, 1844-1845. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79449972

Born in Milton, Pennsylvania, in 1810, James Pollock graduated from the College of New Jersey at Princeton in 1831. He was admitted to the county bar in 1833 and a year later opened a law office in his hometown. From 1835-1837 he served as a deputy Attorney-General for Northumberland County. In 1843 he was elected as the Whig Representative to the United States Congress, serving five years. In 1855 he became the Governor of Pennsylvania, serving three years. In 1861, he was appointed Director of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. In the same year he was a member of the peace convention in Washington, D.C., that hoped to prevent the impending war. Governor Pollock was the originator of the motto "In God We Trust" that still graces coins large enough to contain it. It was during Pollock's term as Governor of Pennsylvania that the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, now known as The Pennsylvania State University, received its charter.

From the description of James Pollock family papers, 1738-1924. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 271249338