John W. Dana

John W. Dana

John Winchester Dana (born June 21, 1808 in Fryeburg , Oxford County , Maine , † December 22, 1867 in Argentina ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Maine from 1847 to 1850 .

Early years and political advancement

Born in what is now Maine as the son of US Senator Judah Dana , John Dana attended the Fryeburg Academy after primary school . At first he tried his hand at trading, but then decided to become a politician. From 1841 to 1842 Dana was an MP in the Maine House of Representatives ; between 1843 and 1844 he was a member of the State Senate and in 1844 even President of the Senate. In this capacity he had to officiate as governor for one day on January 4, 1844, to bridge a gap that had arisen. In 1846 Dana was elected as the Democratic Party candidate for the new governor of his state.

Governor of Maine

Dana took up his new office on May 13, 1847 and was able to exercise it until May 8, 1850 after being re-elected twice in 1847 and 1848. During this period the Mexican-American War took place and the issue of slavery returned to the fore at the national level. As was the case under Dana's predecessor Hugh J. Anderson , Maine clearly sided with the opponents of this institution. Laws against slavery were passed and the movement to abolish this institution in the southern states was supported.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, Dana was appointed American envoy to Bolivia . He held this office between 1853 and 1859. In 1861 he ran unsuccessfully for a return to the office of governor of Maine. Then he withdrew from politics. He emigrated to Argentina, where he worked as a sheep farmer. There he died of cholera on December 22nd, 1867 . John Dana was married to Eliza Ann Osgood, with whom he had five children.

Web links

• John Dana at the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Maine (English)