John Winchester Dana (June 21, 1808 – December 22, 1867) was an American businessman, diplomat and Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Maine. He served as the 19th and 21st Governor of Maine and as Chargé d'affaires to Bolivia during the 19th century.
John Winchester Dana | |
|---|---|
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| 4th Chargé d'Affaires of the United States to Bolivia | |
| In office February 23, 1854 – March 10, 1859 | |
| President | Franklin Pierce James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Horace H. Miller |
| Succeeded by | John C. Smith |
| 19th and 21st Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 3, 1844 | |
| Preceded by | David Dunn |
| Succeeded by | Hugh J. Anderson |
| In office May 13, 1847 – May 8, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh J. Anderson |
| Succeeded by | John Hubbard |
| President of the Maine Senate | |
| In office 1843–1844 | |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1841–1842 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1808 Fryeburg, District of Maine, United States |
| Died | December 22, 1867 (aged 59) Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Resting place | Village Cemetery, Fryeburg, Maine |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Eliza Ann Osgood (m. 1834) |
| Parent | Judah Dana (father) |
| Education | Fryeburg Academy |
| Profession |
|
Early life
editDana was born in Fryeburg in the District of Maine, the son of Judah Dana and Elizabeth Ripley.[1][2] He studied in the local schools and at Fryeburg Academy before pursuing a business career.[3]
Political career
editDana served as a Democratic member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1841 to 1842.[4] He was a member of the Maine State Senate from 1843 to 1844. and was elected president of the Maine State Senate.[5] He became the Governor of Maine on January 3, 1844 after Acting Governor David Dunn resigned from office. He served only that day. As president of the state senate, Dana filled an unexpired term. Hugh J. Anderson became the Governor of Maine on the same day.
In 1846, Dana ran against Liberty Party candidate Samuel Fessenden and Whig Party candidate Daniel Bronson. No candidate received a majority of the vote; the Democratic dominated Legislature selected Dana.[6] He was successful in his re-election bid in 1847 and 1848.[7] During his term, anti-slavery measures were endorsed. He left office on May 8, 1850.
After leaving office, Dana returned to his business pursuits. He was appointed Chargé d'affaires to Bolivia in 1853 by President Franklin Pierce.[8] On March 10, 1859, Dana resigned his position and returned to Maine to run for governor. He was defeated by Israel Washburn Jr.
Later years
editAfter losing the election, Dana sold his property and moved to South America to raise sheep.[9] While assisting in a plague stricken area, Dana contracted cholera in Argentina and died in Rosario, Santa Fe.[10] Years later he was re-interred in the Village Cemetery in Fryeburg, Maine.[11]
Personal life
editDana married Eliza Ann Osgood in 1834 and they had five children.[2] Dana's father Judah Dana was a Maine statesman and U.S. Senator.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Governor John Winchester Dana". Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Brown, John Howard (1900). Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States: Chubb-Erich. James H. Lamb Company. p. 332.
- ^ Watson, Stephen Marion (1898). The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volume 9. S.M. Watson. p. 353.
- ^ Maine (1840). Public Documents of the State of Maine; Being the Reports of the Various Public Officers and Departments. Maine. p. 20.
- ^ "Governor John Winchester Dana". Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "John W. Dana, Fryeburg, 1844". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Chase, Henry (1893). Representative Men of Maine: A Collection of Portraits with Biographical Sketches of Residents of the State, who Have Achieved Success ... to which is Added the Portraits and Sketches of All the Governors Since the Formation of the State. Lakeside Press. p. xxvii.
- ^ "John W. Dana". The Blaine House. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "Dana, John W." Maine An Encyclopedia. April 21, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "John W. Dana, Fryeburg, 1844". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
- ^ The Maine Historical Magazine, Volume 7. Joseph W. Porter. 1892. p. 125.
- ^ Fosdick, Lucian John (1906). The French blood in America. R.G. Badger. p. 187. ISBN 9780665984068.
Further reading
edit- Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2