Percival Proctor Baxter

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Percival Proctor Baxter

Percival Proctor Baxter (born November 22, 1876 in Portland , Maine , † June 12, 1969 ibid) was an American politician and governor of Maine from 1921 to 1925 .

Early years

Percival Baxter attended Bowdoin College after Portland High School until 1898 . He then studied law at Harvard University until 1901 . He decided, however, not to work as a lawyer, but for his family's real estate company. His parents were wealthy and his father was a longtime mayor of Portland. Baxter was a member of the Republican Party . In 1905 he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives for one term . Between 1917 and 1920 he was again a member of this body. In between he was in the State Senate in 1909 and 1910 . In 1921 he was again a member of the Maine Senate and became its President.

Governor of Maine

When Governor Frederic Parkhurst, who was elected in 1920, suddenly died on January 31, 1921 after less than a month in office, Baxter had to take over his office as Senate President and end the term that had begun. After he had succeeded in being elected governor himself in 1922, he was able to remain in office until January 7, 1925. During this time, a new Maine penal institution was established and the penal code reformed. Baxter campaigned for even stricter prohibition laws . Environmental protection measures were improved and the first women were hired in the public sector. Improvements have also been made in the area of ​​school policy. In 1926, Baxter ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate. After that he retired from politics and devoted himself to his business interests. He donated the land to the state, on which the Baxter State Park was created. Baxter also provided the building for a school for the deaf. He died on June 12, 1969, and his ashes were scattered in Baxter State Park, which is named after him.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Baxter, Percival Proctor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Baxter, Percival
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician, governor of Maine
DATE OF BIRTH November 22, 1876
PLACE OF BIRTH Portland , Maine
DATE OF DEATH June 12, 1969
Place of death Portland , Maine