Samuel Fessenden
Encyclopedia
Samuel Fessenden was an American
abolitionist and Massachusetts state legislator
. (At this time, Maine
was a district of Massachusetts
.)
in 1806. He studied law with Judge Dana, of Fryeburg, and Daniel Webster
, and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He began his practice at New Gloucester, Maine
. In 1815-16, he was a representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, and in 1818-19 represented his district in the Massachusetts State Senate.
He was major-general of the 12th division of the Massachusetts (later Maine
) militia
, to which office he was elected on leaving the senate, and to which he gave much attention. He moved to Portland, Maine
, in 1822, and about 1828 declined the presidency of Dartmouth.
He was an ardent Federalist, and one of the early members of the anti-slavery party in Maine. In 1847, he was a Liberty Party
candidate for congressman
and governor, and an early supporter of the United States Republican Party.
For forty years he stood at the head of the bar in Maine. He was an active philanthropist. He published two orations and a treatise on the institution, duties, and importance of juries. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Bowdoin College
in 1846.
William Pitt Fessenden, congressman Samuel C. Fessenden
and congressman T. A. D. Fessenden
. Samuel's father, the Rev. William Fessenden, graduated at Harvard in 1768, was the first minister of Fryeburg, and frequently a member of the Massachusetts state legislature
. William also served as judge of probate
.
Samuel's uncle Thomas Fessenden was the father of Thomas Green Fessenden
, a noted author and editor. Two of Samuel's grandsons became generals in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
— Francis Fessenden
and James D. Fessenden.
Another grandson, Samuel Fessenden (6 January 1841 Portland, Maine
- 1 September 1862 Centreville, Virginia
), was mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas. He graduated from Bowdoin in 1861. He began to study law, but soon entered the military service as 2d lieutenant in the 2d Maine battery, 30 November 1861. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 3 June 1862 and was aide to Gen. Zebulon B. Tower in July 1862.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
abolitionist and Massachusetts state legislator
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. (At this time, 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...
was a district of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.)
Biography
Samuel received his early education at the Fryeburg Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1806. He studied law with Judge Dana, of Fryeburg, and Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He began his practice at New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It is home to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, the last active Shaker Village in the U.S...
. In 1815-16, he was a representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, and in 1818-19 represented his district in the Massachusetts State Senate.
He was major-general of the 12th division of the Massachusetts (later 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...
) militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, to which office he was elected on leaving the senate, and to which he gave much attention. He moved to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, in 1822, and about 1828 declined the presidency of Dartmouth.
He was an ardent Federalist, and one of the early members of the anti-slavery party in Maine. In 1847, he was a Liberty Party
Liberty Party (1840s)
The Liberty Party was a minor political party in the United States in the 1840s . The party was an early advocate of the abolitionist cause...
candidate for congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and governor, and an early supporter of the United States Republican Party.
For forty years he stood at the head of the bar in Maine. He was an active philanthropist. He published two orations and a treatise on the institution, duties, and importance of juries. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1846.
Family
Samuel was the father of Treasury SecretaryUnited States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
William Pitt Fessenden, congressman Samuel C. Fessenden
Samuel C. Fessenden
Samuel Clement Fessenden was a United States Congressman from Maine, son of abolitionist Samuel Fessenden, and brother of Treasury Secretary William Pitt Fessenden and Congressman T. A. D. Fessenden. He was an uncle of Union Army generals, Francis Fessenden and James D...
and congressman T. A. D. Fessenden
T. A. D. Fessenden
Thomas Amory Deblois Fessenden was a U.S. Representative from Maine, the son of abolitionist legislator Samuel Fessenden, and brother of Treasury Secretary William P. Fessenden and congressman Samuel C. Fessenden. He was an uncle of Union Army generals Francis Fessenden and James D...
. Samuel's father, the Rev. William Fessenden, graduated at Harvard in 1768, was the first minister of Fryeburg, and frequently a member of the Massachusetts state legislature
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. William also served as judge of probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
.
Samuel's uncle Thomas Fessenden was the father of Thomas Green Fessenden
Thomas Green Fessenden
Thomas Green Fessenden was an author and editor who worked in England and the United States.-Biography:...
, a noted author and editor. Two of Samuel's grandsons became generals in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
— Francis Fessenden
Francis Fessenden
Francis Fessenden was a lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of Maine who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
and James D. Fessenden.
Another grandson, Samuel Fessenden (6 January 1841 Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
- 1 September 1862 Centreville, Virginia
Centreville, Virginia
Centreville is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a Census Designated Place , the community population was 71,135 as of the 2010 census and is approximately west of Washington, DC.-Colonial Period:Beginning in the 1760s,...
), was mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas. He graduated from Bowdoin in 1861. He began to study law, but soon entered the military service as 2d lieutenant in the 2d Maine battery, 30 November 1861. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 3 June 1862 and was aide to Gen. Zebulon B. Tower in July 1862.