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William Hawkins Polk (May 24, 1815 – December 16, 1862) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 6th congressional district from 1851 to 1853. He was the younger brother of President James K. Polk. Prior to his election to Congress, he had been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1841–1845), served as U.S. Minister to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1845–1847), and fought as a major in the Mexican-American War. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Polk supported the Union.〔''(Makers of America )'', Vol. 1 (B.F. Johnson, 1915), p. 567.〕 He ran for Governor of Tennessee in 1861, but lost to the secessionist incumbent, Isham G. Harris. ==Early life== Polk was born in Maury County, Tennessee, the ninth of ten children of Samuel Polk (1772–1827) and Jane (Knox) Polk (1776–1852).〔Elizabeth Jewell, ''(U.S. Presidents Factbook )'' (Random House, 2007).〕 He attended the public schools of Columbia, and the University of North Carolina in 1832 and 1833. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1839, and commenced practice in Columbia.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000412 )〕 Polk engaged in reckless behavior as a youth that his family found troubling. He was described as a spendthrift prone to "extravagance" and "light amusements." A letter from his brother, James K. Polk, warned him, "you are getting into habits that must inevitably destroy you."〔William Roe Polk, ''(Polk's Folly: An American Family History )'' (Random House, 2001), pp. 162-163.〕 In 1838, William H. Polk killed Robert Hayes, a young Nashville lawyer, following an altercation at the Nelson House in Columbia. The two had apparently been arguing when Polk insulted Hayes, and Hayes responded by throwing a cup at Polk. Polk then obtained a whip and lashed Hayes with it, prompting Hayes to flee. Shortly afterward, Hayes attempted to ambush Polk with a derringer, but his lone shot missed. Polk drew his own gun and returned fire, killing Hayes. Polk was tried for murder, but convicted of a lesser charge, and sentenced to six weeks in jail and a $750 fine. He was defended at trial by his brother's former law partner, Gideon Pillow.〔Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes, Roy P. Stonesifer, ''(The Life and Wars of Gideon J. Pillow )'' (University of North Carolina Press, 1993), p. 16.〕 Polk was elected to Maury County's seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1841. His brother, the incumbent governor, had been defeated for reelection that same year. William H. Polk was reelected to a second term in 1843.〔''(Tennessee Blue Book )'' (1890), pp. 214-216.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Hawkins Polk」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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