Cave Johnson

For the character in Portal 2, see Cave Johnson (Portal).

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
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Dortch Brunson
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.

During his tenure at Postmaster General he shifted the postal service from a collect on delivery 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

• Cave Johnson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Cave Johnson at Find A Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Charles A. Wickliffe	United States Postmaster General Served under: James K. Polk 1845 – 1849	Succeeded by Jacob Collamer
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by John Hartwell Marable	Member from Tennessee's 8th congressional district 1829 – 1833	Succeeded by David W. Dickinson
New district	Member from Tennessee's 11th congressional district 1833 – 1837	Succeeded by Richard Cheatham
Preceded by Richard Cheatham	Member from Tennessee's 11th congressional district 1839 – 1843	Succeeded by Milton Brown
Preceded by Harvey Magee Watterson	Member from Tennessee's 9th congressional district 1843 – 1845	Succeeded by Lucien Bonaparte Chase