Edward Kent
Encyclopedia
Edward Kent was the 12th and 15th Governor of the U.S. state
of Maine
during the Aroostook War
. Born in 1802 in Concord, New Hampshire
, he later moved to Bangor, Maine
and spent the rest of his life there. He was among the last prominent members of the Whig Party in Maine before it collapsed in favor of the Republicans
. He is the only Maine governor to have been elected to two non-consecutive terms (1838–39 and 1841–42), though his second term was through direct appointment by the Whig-dominated legislature.
Kent graduated from Harvard in 1821, in the same class as Ralph Waldo Emerson
. According to a biographical article reprinted in the New York Times, "he had no rank in college and in truth was President of the 'Lazy Club'". He apprenticed as a lawyer in Topsham, Maine, but established his own practice in the growing lumber-port of Bangor in 1825. He was elected to the Maine Legislature
in 1829 and held political offices on and off the rest of his life, becoming the 2nd Mayor of Bangor (1836–37), then Governor, and then U.S. Consul in Rio de Janeiro
(1849–53). Tragedy struck him in Rio when two of his three children, along with his wife, died of yellow fever
. His surviving child died soon after they returned to Bangor. Kent married a second time, however, and had one more child, Edward Kent, Jr., who became the Chief Justice of the Arizona Territory
Supreme Court.
Kent went into practice with Jonas Cutting in 1831 and their partnership lasted 18 years. The two even built a double house together, in Bangor's Broadway
neighborhood, which is presently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a unique example of the Greek Revival style.
Kent ended his public life as an Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
(1859–73). His law partner and neighbor Jonas Cutting served almost concurrently in the same position (1854–75). Kent's uncle Prentiss Mellen
had been the first Chief Justice of the same court.
Kent played a part in both instigating and resolving the Aroostook War
. Fort Kent, situated where the Fish River meets the St. John River in the St. John River Valley, was named in his honor. Later, the town of Fort Kent, Maine
was named for the military installation (of which only a single blockhouse survives) and for Governor Kent. He died of congestive heart failure
in 1877 in Bangor, Maine
, and is buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
during the Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
. Born in 1802 in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, he later moved to Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
and spent the rest of his life there. He was among the last prominent members of the Whig Party in Maine before it collapsed in favor of the Republicans
History of the United States Republican Party
The United States Republican Party is the second oldest currently existing political party in the United States after its great rival, the Democratic Party. It emerged in 1854 to combat the Kansas Nebraska Act which threatened to extend slavery into the territories, and to promote more vigorous...
. He is the only Maine governor to have been elected to two non-consecutive terms (1838–39 and 1841–42), though his second term was through direct appointment by the Whig-dominated legislature.
Kent graduated from Harvard in 1821, in the same class as Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
. According to a biographical article reprinted in the New York Times, "he had no rank in college and in truth was President of the 'Lazy Club'". He apprenticed as a lawyer in Topsham, Maine, but established his own practice in the growing lumber-port of Bangor in 1825. He was elected to the Maine Legislature
Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate...
in 1829 and held political offices on and off the rest of his life, becoming the 2nd Mayor of Bangor (1836–37), then Governor, and then U.S. Consul in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
(1849–53). Tragedy struck him in Rio when two of his three children, along with his wife, died of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
. His surviving child died soon after they returned to Bangor. Kent married a second time, however, and had one more child, Edward Kent, Jr., who became the Chief Justice of the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
Supreme Court.
Kent went into practice with Jonas Cutting in 1831 and their partnership lasted 18 years. The two even built a double house together, in Bangor's Broadway
Broadway Historic District (Bangor, Maine)
The Broadway Historic District in Bangor, Maine is one of the residential neighborhoods most favored by the city's lumber barons in the early to late 19th century. A second and slightly later Bangor neighborhood of primarily elite houses, centered on West Broadway, is also listed on the National...
neighborhood, which is presently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a unique example of the Greek Revival style.
Kent ended his public life as an Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
(1859–73). His law partner and neighbor Jonas Cutting served almost concurrently in the same position (1854–75). Kent's uncle Prentiss Mellen
Prentiss Mellen
Prentiss Mellen was a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Sterling, Massachusetts to Rev. John and Rebecca Mellen...
had been the first Chief Justice of the same court.
Kent played a part in both instigating and resolving the Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
. Fort Kent, situated where the Fish River meets the St. John River in the St. John River Valley, was named in his honor. Later, the town of Fort Kent, Maine
Fort Kent, Maine
Fort Kent is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,097 in the 2010 census. Fort Kent is home to an Olympic biathlete training center, an annual CAN-AM dogsled race, and the Fort Kent Blockhouse, built in reaction to the Aroostook War and in modern times designated...
was named for the military installation (of which only a single blockhouse survives) and for Governor Kent. He died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
in 1877 in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, and is buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.