William Tudor Gardiner was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician and the 55th Governor of Maine

Governor of Maine

The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....

.

Early life

Gardiner was born in Newton, Massachusetts

Newton, Massachusetts

Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...

 on June 12, 1892. He studied at the Groton School. He went to Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 for his higher studies and completed his law degree in 1917.

First World War

During First World War, Gardiner served in the army. He later became the first lieutenant of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. He served outside the United States and participated in the operation that attained the Italian Armistice. After his military service, he established his law career in Portland, Maine.

Politics

Gardiner was elected as a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1920. He held that position for six years. In 1928, he was nominated by the Republican Party for the governorship of Maine. He won the general election by a popular vote. He successful in his re-election bid in 1930. During his administration, during the stock market crashed, the crippling economic problems were dealt with. He left office on January 4, 1933. Gardiner was later killed in a plane crash.

Personal life

Gardiner married Margaret Thomas and they had four children. He was an Episcopalian. His son, Tudor (a lawyer), was married to Tenley Albright

Tenley Albright

Tenley Emma Albright, M.D. is an American figure skater. She is the 1956 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, 1952 Olympic silver medalist, the 1953 & 1955 World Champion, the 1953 & 1955 North American champion, and the 1952–1956 U.S...

, a distinguished figure skaer, and later a surgeon.

Sources

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2