Edward Kavanagh
Encyclopedia
Edward Kavanagh was a United States Representative and the 17th Governor of Maine
. Born in Newcastle, Maine
, he attended Montreal Seminary (in Quebec, Canada) and Georgetown College
, (Georgetown, D.C.) He graduated from St. Mary's College
(Baltimore
) in 1813. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in Damariscotta, Maine
. He was a member of the Maine House of Representatives
from 1826 to 1828, and was secretary of the State senate in 1830.
Kavanagh's public career began with a plea to the framers of the Maine Constitution
to include an article for official religious toleration. His first elected role was on the school committee, followed by roles as selectman, state representative, and state senator. In 1829 the legislature elected him as Secretary of State.
Kavanagh was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Congresses, serving as March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1835. He was nationally noticed as the first Catholic elected from New England. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1834 to the Twenty-fourth Congress, and was appointed Chargé d'Affaires to Portugal
on March 3, 1835, and served until his resignation in June 1841. He was one of the four Maine commissioners on the northeastern boundary in 1842 in the negotiations that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
, and was a member of the Maine Senate
in 1842 and 1843 and served as president of that body. He became Governor of Maine upon the election of Governor Fairfield on March 7, 1843 to replace U.S. Senator Reuel Williams
upon William's resignation, and served until the end of the term in 1844. Less than four weeks later, Kavanagh died in Newcastle; interment was in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Damariscotta Mills.
Kavanagh's house
in Newcastle has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
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....
. Born in Newcastle, Maine
Newcastle, Maine
Newcastle is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,748 at the 2000 census. The village of Newcastle is located in the western part of the town, on the Damariscotta River...
, he attended Montreal Seminary (in Quebec, Canada) and Georgetown College
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
, (Georgetown, D.C.) He graduated from St. Mary's College
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
(Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
) in 1813. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and commenced practice in Damariscotta, Maine
Damariscotta, Maine
Damariscotta is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census. A popular tourist resort area, the towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle are linked by the Main Street bridge over the Damariscotta River, forming the "Twin Villages." The name Damariscotta is...
. He was a member of the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
from 1826 to 1828, and was secretary of the State senate in 1830.
Kavanagh's public career began with a plea to the framers of the Maine Constitution
Maine Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Maine established the "State of Maine" in 1820 and is the fundamental governing document of the state. It consists of a Preamble and ten Articles , the first of which is a "Declaration of Rights"....
to include an article for official religious toleration. His first elected role was on the school committee, followed by roles as selectman, state representative, and state senator. In 1829 the legislature elected him as Secretary of State.
Kavanagh was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Congresses, serving as March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1835. He was nationally noticed as the first Catholic elected from New England. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1834 to the Twenty-fourth Congress, and was appointed Chargé d'Affaires to Portugal
United States Ambassador to Portugal
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal.Bilateral diplomatic relations between the United States and Portugal date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February...
on March 3, 1835, and served until his resignation in June 1841. He was one of the four Maine commissioners on the northeastern boundary in 1842 in the negotiations that led to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies...
, and was a member of the Maine Senate
Maine 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 allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
in 1842 and 1843 and served as president of that body. He became Governor of Maine upon the election of Governor Fairfield on March 7, 1843 to replace U.S. Senator Reuel Williams
Reuel Williams
Reuel Williams was a U.S. Senator from Maine.Born in Hallowell, Maine to Seth Williams and Zelphia Ingraham, he attended Hallowell Academy, and went on to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1804, commencing practice in Augusta, Maine.He was a member of the Maine Legislature from 1812 to 1829...
upon William's resignation, and served until the end of the term in 1844. Less than four weeks later, Kavanagh died in Newcastle; interment was in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Damariscotta Mills.
Kavanagh's house
Gov. Edward Kavanaugh House
The Gov. Edward Kavanaugh House is located in Newcastle, Maine. The house was built in 1803 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1974. The house was home to Maine Governor Edward Kavanagh.-References:...
in Newcastle has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.