George W. Pollitt was born on December 8, 1851 in Paterson, New Jersey. The family moved to Philadelphia and later returned to Paterson.

His father, James, enlisted with Co. F, 26th New York Infantry on May 3, 1861 as a private. He was wounded at Groveton, Virginia at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862 and mustered out on June 16, 1863. He was a Comrade with the George G. Meade Post No. 7 G.A.R. of Passaic City, New Jersey.

George was one of the chief organizers and a chartered member of the Hugh C. Irish Camp No. 8, Paterson. He served as Sergeant-at-Arms for 32 years and as Treasurer for about 40 years. For the National Organization, he was elected Major-General in 1889, appointed Chief Mustering Officer in 1890, appointed Chaplain-in-Chief in 1891, and elected Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief in 1892. He was the New Jersey Division Commander in 1894. Three Brothers ran for Commander-in-Chief at the 1909 National Encampment. On the first ballot Newton J. McGuire (IN) received 42 votes, Pollitt had 59 ½ votes, and Fred E. Bolton (MA) has 52 ½ votes. Because none received a majority, a second ballot was necessary; McGuire received 26 votes, Pollitt had 87, and Bolton had 42.

He was a runner for the South Penn Hose Company in Philadelphia. Back in Paterson, his uncle hired him as a clerk in a grocery store and a year later George and his cousin started their own grocery store. In 1885, he became a traveling salesman for the Fabric Fire Hose Co. of New York. After two years, he started as the Manager and Editor of the Paterson Daily Telegram newspaper, which failed within a year. After a few more attempts at business, he landed an appointment as Postmaster under President William McKinley and served another two terms under President Theodore Roosevelt. He founded the Eastside Building and Loan Association and was a Director of the United States Trust Corp. He had a long involvement with the Fire Department, serving as an assistant foreman and foreman of Passaic Engine 1.

Politically he served three terms on the Paterson Board of Alderman, from 1882 to 1888 and as its President from 1885 to 1886. He was appointed Commissioner for the improvement of county roads. He served two terms on the County Board of Elections as a Republican member.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Paterson Firemen's Benevolent Association, and several other groups.

He married Emaline Hobson and they had a son and two daughters.

He died on March 20, 1922 and is buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson.

Note: George has his name spelled as “Pollitt” and “Polliet” in SUVCW documents.