Cave Johnson

Cave Johnson
12th United States Postmaster General
In office March 6, 1845 – March 4, 1849
Preceded by	Charles A. Wickliffe
Succeeded by	Jacob Collamer
Personal details
Born	(1793-01-11)January 11, 1793 Robertson County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	November 23, 1866(1866-11-23) (aged 73) Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Cumberland College
Profession	Politician

Cave Johnson (January 11, 1793 – November 23, 1866) was for fourteen years a Democratic U.S. Congressman from Tennessee. He was also the United States Postmaster General under James K. Polk from 1845–1849. He was born in Robertson County, Tennessee, and died in Clarksville, Tennessee of scurvy.

During his tenure at Postmaster General he shifted the postal service from a COD postage delivery system to a prepaid postal delivery system by introducing the postage stamp in 1847. He is also credited with introducing street corner mail boxes in urban areas. He later served as president of the Bank of Tennessee from 1854 to 1860.

External links

• United States Congress. "Cave Johnson (id: J000122)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Cave Johnson at Find A Grave