John Winchester Dana (June 21, 1808 – December 22, 1867) was an American businessman, diplomat and
Democratic politician in the U.S. state of
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
. He served as the
19th and 21st 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 is Ja ...
and as
Chargé d'affaires
A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...
to
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
during the 19th century.
Early life
Dana was born in
Fryeburg (in modern-day
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
, then a part of
), the son of Judah and Elizabeth Dana. He studied in the local schools and at
Fryeburg Academy
Fryeburg Academy, founded in 1792, is one of the oldest private schools in the United States, located in Fryeburg, Maine. Among notable faculty, Daniel Webster was one of the first Heads of School, teaching at the school for a year.
Boarding stu ...
before pursuing a business career.
Political career
Dana served as a Democratic 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 p ...
from 1841 to 1842. He was a member of the
Maine State Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution ...
from 1843 to 1844. and was elected president of the Maine State Senate. He became the Governor of Maine on January 3, 1844 after Acting Governor
David Dunn
David John Ian Dunn (born 27 December 1979) is an English former professional football player and manager; he is now a coach at club Port Vale.
Dunn played as an attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career representing ...
resigned from office. He served only that day. As president of the state senate, Dana filled an unexpired term.
Hugh J. Anderson
Hugh Johnston Anderson (May 10, 1801 – May 31, 1881) was member of the United States Congress from Maine and served as the List of Governors of Maine, 20th Governor of Maine.
Early life
Hugh J. Anderson was born in Wiscasset, Maine, Wiscasset ...
became the Governor of Maine on the same day.
In 1846, Dana ran against
Liberty Party candidate
Samuel Fessenden
Samuel Fessenden (July 16, 1784 – March 13, 1869) was an American attorney, abolitionist, and politician. He served in both houses of the Massachusetts state legislature before Maine became a separate state. He was elected as major general i ...
and
Whig Party candidate Daniel Bronson. No candidate received a majority of the vote; the Democratic dominated Legislature selected Dana. He was successful in his re-election bid in 1847 and 1848. During his term, anti-slavery measures were endorsed. He left office on May 8, 1850.
After leaving office, Dana returned to his business pursuits. He was appointed
Chargé d'affaires
A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...
to
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
in 1853 by President
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...
. On March 10, 1859, Dana resigned his position and returned to Maine to run for governor. He was defeated by
Israel Washburn, Jr.
Israel Washburn Jr. (June 6, 1813 – May 12, 1883) was a United States political figure who was the Governor of Maine from 1861 to 1863. Originally a member of the Whig Party, he later became a founding member of the Republican Party. In 184 ...
Later years
After losing the election, Dana sold his property and moved to South America to raise sheep. While assisting in a plague stricken area, Dana contracted
cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...
in
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
and died near
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
. Years later he was re-interred in the Village Cemetery in Fryeburg, Maine.
Personal life
Dana married Eliza Ann Osgood and they had five children. Dana's father
Judah Dana
Judah Dana (April 25, 1772 – December 27, 1845) was an American lawyer, judge and politician. He served as a United States senator from Maine and as judge of the Maine Court of Common Pleas during the early 1800s.
Early life
Born in Pomfre ...
was a Maine statesman and
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
.
References
Further reading
* Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978''. Greenwood Press, 1988.
External links
*
National Governors AssociationJohn W. Dana Portrait*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dana, John W.
1808 births
1867 deaths
Democratic Party governors of Maine
People from Fryeburg, Maine
Deaths from cholera
Ambassadors of the United States to Bolivia
Presidents of the Maine Senate
Democratic Party Maine state senators
Infectious disease deaths in Argentina
19th-century American diplomats
19th-century American politicians
Fryeburg Academy alumni