Samuel Cony (February 27, 1811 – October 5, 1870) was an American politician, who most notably served as the 31st

Governor of Maine The governor of Maine is the head of government of the U.S. 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. The current governor of Maine ...

from 1864 to 1867.

Early years

Cony was born in Augusta (in modern-day

Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...

, then a part of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

) on February 27, 1811, the son of Susan Bowdoin (Coney) and Samuel Cony. He studied at the China Academy and Wakefield College. He graduated from Brown University in 1829. He then studied law with future U.S. Congressman

Hiram Belcher Hiram Belcher (February 23, 1790 – May 6, 1857) was a United States representative from Maine. He was born in Hallowell, Massachusetts (now in Maine) on February 23, 1790. He attended the rural schools and the local academy in town. Belche ...

, of

Farmington Farmington may refer to: Places Canada *Farmington, British Columbia *Farmington, Nova Scotia (disambiguation) United States * Farmington, Arkansas *Farmington, California * Farmington, Connecticut *Farmington, Delaware * Farmington, Georgia ...

and also with his uncle, future U.S. Senator Reuel Williams of Augusta.

Career in law

Cony was admitted to the bar in 1832. He opened an office in Old Town, Maine. He served as a judge of the Probate Court for

Penobscot County, Maine Penobscot County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine, named for the Penobscot Nation on Wabanakik. As of the 2020 census, the population was 152,199. Its county seat is Bangor. The county was established on February 15, 1816, from part o ...

from 1840 to 1846.

Early political career

Cony was originally a Democrat and served as a member of the

Maine House of Representatives The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 voting members and three nonvoting members. The voting members represent an equal number of districts across the state and are elected via ...

from 1835 to 1836 from

Penobscot County Penobscot County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine, named for the Penobscot Nation on Wabanakik. As of the 2020 census, the population was 152,199. Its county seat is Bangor. The county was established on February 15, 1816, from part of ...

. He also served as a member of the governor's

executive council Executive Council may refer to: Government * Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor * Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern * Ex ...

(1839), the land agent for Maine (1847–1850). In 1850 he left

Old Town In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...

for Augusta when he was appointed state treasurer of Maine (1850–1854). He subsequently became mayor of Augusta (1854). He joined the Republican Party in 1862, which had then become ascendant in Maine politics. He was re-elected to the

, now representing a district in

Kennebec County Kennebec County is a County (United States), county located in the South-central portion of the U.S. state of Maine. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 123,642. Its county seat is Augusta, Maine, Augusta, the state ...

, and served for one term.

Governor of Maine

Cony was nominated by the

Maine Republican Party The Maine Republican Party is an affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Maine. It was founded in Strong, Maine, on August 7, 1854. The party currently does not control the governor's office or either chamber of the Maine Legislatu ...

as their candidate for governor and was elected governor by a popular vote in 1863. He was elected governor three times. During his administration, troops and provisions continued to be raised for the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

. Maine sent more than 70,000 men to the front. The Executive of the State issued 4,295 commissions, of which Cony signed about 1,400. Cony announced that he would not accept another nomination in his inaugural address at the opening of the legislature in January 1866. He left office on January 2, 1867.

Personal life

Cony married twice. He married Mercy H. Sewall on October 17, 1833. She died April 9, 1847. He then married Lucy W. Brooks on November 22, 1849. He had six children. He was a Congregationalist. His home on Stone Street in Augusta, the Gov. Samuel Cony House, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.

References

Sources

* Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978''. Greenwood Press, 1988. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cony, Samuel 1811 births 1870 deaths People from Old Town, Maine Governors of Maine Mayors of Augusta, Maine Maine Republicans State treasurers of Maine Members of the Maine House of Representatives Maine Democrats Members of the Executive Council of Maine Union (American Civil War) state governors American Congregationalists Brown University alumni Republican Party governors of Maine 19th-century American politicians