Israel Washburn junior

Israel Washburn

Israel Washburn Jr. (born June 6, 1813 in Livermore , Androscoggin County , Maine , † May 12, 1883 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Maine from 1861 to 1863 .

Early years

Israel Washburn enjoyed a private education at times, but also attended the local schools in his homeland. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1834. He then opened a practice in Orono . In 1842 Washburn was elected to the Maine House of Representatives. He stayed there until 1843. Between 1851 and 1861 he represented his state in the US House of Representatives . From the beginning, Washburne was involved in the founding of the Republican Party in 1854 . He was one of the first significant politicians to use the term "Republican". In Maine, Washburn built the state association of the new party. On September 10, 1860, Washburn was elected as his party's candidate for the new governor of Maine.

Governor of Maine

Washburn took up his new office on January 2, 1861. After re-election in 1861, he was able to serve until January 7, 1863. During this time, a geological survey was commissioned to explore the country's mineral resources. In addition, the rail link between Nova Scotia and Portland was completed. Washburn's tenure was overshadowed by the events of the Civil War that rocked the country from April 1861. Washburn supported the federal government's war effort under President Abraham Lincoln . Volunteers were called to arms and placed under the Union Army. In addition, the governor was given the authority to set up a coast guard if this should become necessary. The country's industrial production was also converted to armaments requirements. Politically, he supported Lincoln's emancipation proclamation on the abolition of slavery , which was prepared in 1862 and promulgated in 1863.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, Washburn became the head of customs in the port of Portland. He held this position between 1863 and 1877. Washburn was also the curator of Tufts College in Massachusetts and president of a railroad company. After his death on May 12, 1883, Washburne was buried in Bangor . He was married twice and had four children in total.

Several of Israel Washburn's brothers also became politically active. Elihu (1816-1887) was Secretary of State of the United States under President Ulysses S. Grant , Cadwallader (1818-1882) Governor of Wisconsin and William (1831-1912) US Senator for Minnesota . Another brother, Charles (1822–1889), served as US ambassador to Paraguay .

Web links

• Israel Washburn in the National Governors Association (English)
• Israel Washburn in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• The governors of Maine (English)
• Israel Washburn Jr. in the database of Find a Grave (English)