Samuel Cony
Encyclopedia
Samuel Cony was an American
politician, who most notably served as the 31st Governor of Maine
from 1864 to 1867.
, Maine
on February 27, 1811. He studied at the China Academy and Wakefield College. He graduated from Brown University
in 1829. He then studied law with Hiram Belcher, of Farmington and also with his uncle, Reuel Williams of Augusta.
. He served as a judge of the Probate Court for Penobscot County from 1840 to 1846.
from 1835 to 1836 from Penobscot County. He also served as a member of the governor's executive council (1839), the land agent for Maine (1847-1850). In 1850 he left Old Town
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 ascendent in Maine politics. He was re-elected to the Maine House of Representatives
, now representing a district in Kennebec County, and served for one term.
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 were raised for the American Civil War
. Maine sent to the front more than 70,000 men. There were issued by the Executive of the State 4,295 commissions, of which number Cony signed about fourteen hundred. Cony notified that he would not accept another nomination in the inaugural address at the opening of the legislature in January, 1866. He left office on January 2, 1867.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, who most notably served as the 31st Governor of Maine
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....
from 1864 to 1867.
Early years
Cony was born in AugustaAugusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
on February 27, 1811. He studied at the China Academy and Wakefield College. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1829. He then studied law with Hiram Belcher, of Farmington and also with his uncle, Reuel Williams of Augusta.
Career in law
Cony was admitted to the bar in 1832. He opened an office in Old Town, MaineOld Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
. He served as a judge of the Probate Court for Penobscot County from 1840 to 1846.
Early Political Career
Cony was originally a Democrat and served as a member of the Maine House of RepresentativesMaine 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 1835 to 1836 from Penobscot County. He also served as a member of the governor's executive council (1839), the land agent for Maine (1847-1850). In 1850 he left Old Town
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
for Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
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 ascendent in Maine politics. He was re-elected to 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...
, now representing a district in Kennebec County, and served for one term.
Governor of Maine
Cony was nominated by the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
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 were raised for the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Maine sent to the front more than 70,000 men. There were issued by the Executive of the State 4,295 commissions, of which number Cony signed about fourteen hundred. Cony notified that he would not accept another nomination in the 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.Sources
- Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2