John Fairfield

For the American abolitionist and member of the Underground Railroad, see John Fairfield (abolitionist).

John Fairfield
United States Senator from Maine
In office December 4, 1843 – December 24, 1847
Preceded by	Reuel Williams
Succeeded by	Wyman B. S. Moor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st district
In office March 4, 1835 – December 24, 1838
Preceded by	Rufus McIntire
Succeeded by	Nathan Clifford
13th & 16th Governor of Maine
In office January 2, 1839 – January 12, 1841 January 5, 1842 – March 7, 1843
Preceded by	Edward Kent (twice)
Succeeded by	Richard H. Vose Edward Kavanagh
Personal details
Born	January 30, 1797 Saco, Maine
Died	Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco, Maine
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Bowdoin College
Profession	Law, Trade

John Fairfield (January 30, 1797 – December 24, 1847) was a U.S. politician from Maine having served separately as a U.S. Congressman, state governor and U.S. Senator.

He was born in Saco, Maine and attended the Saco schools, Thornton Academy, and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He then engaged in trade and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1826, and practiced successfully in his native town and in Biddeford, Maine. He was appointed a trustee of Thornton Academy in 1826 and served as president of the board of trustees from 1845 to 1847.

He was appointed reporter of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1834, and was then elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat, serving from March 4, 1835, to December 24, 1838, when he resigned, having been elected Governor.

He was the 13th and 16th Governor of Maine from 1838 to 1841, and again from 1842 to 1843, when he resigned, having been elected a United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Reuel Williams. He was then reelected and served from March 3, 1843 until his death in 1847. During his time in the Congress he was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Naval Affairs for the 29th and 30th Congresses. He was the author of Supreme Court Reports, published in Augusta, Maine between 1835 and 1837.

John Fairfield is the namesake of the town of Fort Fairfield, Maine and also of Governor John Fairfield Elementary School in Saco, Maine.

References

• John Fairfield at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

External links

• Representative Men of Maine: Governor John Fairfield
• John Fairfield at Find a Grave
• Famous figures of Main and surroundings:Gov. John Fairfield Dje9_i

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Rufus McIntire	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st congressional district 1835–1838	Succeeded by Nathan Clifford
Political offices
Preceded by Edward Kent	Governor of Maine 1839–1841	Succeeded by Edward Kent
Preceded by Edward Kent	Governor of Maine 1842–1843	Succeeded by Edward Kavanagh
United States Senate
Preceded by Reuel Williams	U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Maine 1843–1847 Served alongside: George Evans, James W. Bradbury	Succeeded by Wyman B. S. Moor