Marcellus Stearns
Encyclopedia
Marcellus Lovejoy Stearns (1839–1891) was an American politician
. He served as the 11th Governor of Florida, from 1874 to 1877.
Born in Lovell, Maine
on April 29, 1839, he attended Colby College
and in 1861 left to join the Union Army
. He lost an arm during the war, after which he was sent by the army to study law. He was sent to Quincy, Florida
, where he remained after being discharged. He was a member of the Florida Constitutional Convention of 1868, and the Florida House of Representatives from 1868 through 1872, serving as speaker in 1869. He was elected the fifth Lieutenant Governor
in 1872. He became governor on March 18, 1874 when Governor Ossian B. Hart
died from pneumonia
. Stearns attempted to force Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
to resign his post as Superintendent of Public Instruction, but was unsuccessful due to Gibbs' immense popularity. After leaving office on January 2, 1877, he was appointed U.S. Commissioner in Hot Springs, Arkansas
, a post he held until 1880. He died in Palatine Bridge, New York
, on December 8, 1891. He is buried in Center Lovell, Maine.
After he left office on 2 January 1877, there was no Republican Governor of Florida until 1967.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
. He served as the 11th Governor of Florida, from 1874 to 1877.
Born in Lovell, Maine
Lovell, Maine
Lovell is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census. Lovell is the site of Kezar Lake, a resort area.-History:...
on April 29, 1839, he attended Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
and in 1861 left to join the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He lost an arm during the war, after which he was sent by the army to study law. He was sent to Quincy, Florida
Quincy, Florida
Quincy is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,982 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,975...
, where he remained after being discharged. He was a member of the Florida Constitutional Convention of 1868, and the Florida House of Representatives from 1868 through 1872, serving as speaker in 1869. He was elected the fifth Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it...
in 1872. He became governor on March 18, 1874 when Governor Ossian B. Hart
Ossian B. Hart
Ossian Bingley Hart was the tenth Governor of the U.S. state of Florida, and the first governor of Florida who was born in the state. Born in Jacksonville to Isaiah Hart, one of the city's founders, he was raised on his father's plantation along the St. Johns River. He was lawyer in Jacksonville....
died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. Stearns attempted to force Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
to resign his post as Superintendent of Public Instruction, but was unsuccessful due to Gibbs' immense popularity. After leaving office on January 2, 1877, he was appointed U.S. Commissioner in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, a post he held until 1880. He died in Palatine Bridge, New York
Palatine Bridge, New York
Palatine Bridge is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. The basis of the name is the community's location in a region settled by Palatinate Germans....
, on December 8, 1891. He is buried in Center Lovell, Maine.
After he left office on 2 January 1877, there was no Republican Governor of Florida until 1967.