Seldon Connor
Encyclopedia
Seldon Connor was an American soldier, banker, and politician who was the 35th Governor
of the U.S. state of Maine
.
, and in 1859 graduated at Tufts College
, as well as studying law in Vermont
. While attending Tufts University, he was a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity
.
Following the outbreak of the American Civil War
, Connor entered the military service in May 1861 as a private
in the 1st Vermont Infantry
, but became ill with chronic catarrh
, recovering the following winter. He served as the lieutenant colonel
of the 7th Maine Infantry from August 1861, rising to the rank of colonel in January 1864. Connor later joined the 19th Maine Infantry, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness
. He was commissioned as a brigadier general
of volunteers, but in 1866 was mustered out of service.
After the war, Connor began involvement in political issues
in 1868, becoming an assessor of the Internal Revenue
, as well as serving as the regional collector of internal revenue in 1874. In 1875, Connor was a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial race, to which his nomination was successful, moving onwards to win the General Election
. During his time in politics, Connor advocated civil service reform, and supported the resumption of specie payments
. Connor was also responsible for promoting a free public school system, in which he was successful. Connor resigned from office on January 8, 1879, after failing to win reelection.
Subsequently, he was United States pension agent from 1882-86. Connor was active in veterans affairs, and in 1890 became president of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. From 1896-99, he was the senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
. In 1897, he was again appointed as a pension agent. His address on Hannibal Hamlin
was published in 1909. Connor remained a prominent figure in Maine politics, and also served as president of the Northern Banking Company.
Connor is buried in Augusta, 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....
of the U.S. state of 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...
.
Biography
He was born in Fairfield, MaineFairfield, Maine
Fairfield is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,735 at the 2010 census. The town includes Fairfield Center, Fairfield village and Hinckley...
, and in 1859 graduated at Tufts College
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, as well as studying law in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. While attending Tufts University, he was a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
.
Following the outbreak of 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...
, Connor entered the military service in May 1861 as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 1st Vermont Infantry
1st Vermont Infantry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, in and around Fortress Monroe, Virginia.-History:...
, but became ill with chronic catarrh
Catarrh
Catarrh is a disorder of inflammation of the mucous membranes in one of the airways or cavities of the body. It can result in a thick exudate of mucus and white blood cells caused by the swelling of the mucous membranes in the head in response to an infection...
, recovering the following winter. He served as the lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 7th Maine Infantry from August 1861, rising to the rank of colonel in January 1864. Connor later joined the 19th Maine Infantry, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
. He was commissioned as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers, but in 1866 was mustered out of service.
After the war, Connor began involvement in political issues
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in 1868, becoming an assessor of the Internal Revenue
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, as well as serving as the regional collector of internal revenue in 1874. In 1875, Connor was a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial race, to which his nomination was successful, moving onwards to win the General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. During his time in politics, Connor advocated civil service reform, and supported the resumption of specie payments
Hard money (policy)
Hard money policies are those which are opposed to fiat currency and thus in support of a specie standard, usually gold or silver, typically implemented with representative money....
. Connor was also responsible for promoting a free public school system, in which he was successful. Connor resigned from office on January 8, 1879, after failing to win reelection.
Subsequently, he was United States pension agent from 1882-86. Connor was active in veterans affairs, and in 1890 became president of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. From 1896-99, he was the senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
. In 1897, he was again appointed as a pension agent. His address on Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
was published in 1909. Connor remained a prominent figure in Maine politics, and also served as president of the Northern Banking Company.
Connor is buried in Augusta, Maine
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...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals