FAIRFIELD, John (1797-1847)

Democrat of Maine

0th congressional district

Served in Senate 1843-1848

Served in House 1835-1838

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Biography

Representative and a Senator from Maine; born in Saco, York County, Maine, January 30, 1797; attended the Saco schools, Thornton Academy, and Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine; engaged in trade; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice in Biddleford and Saco, Maine; appointed a trustee of Thornton Academy in 1826 and served as president of the board of trustees 1845-1847; appointed reporter of the State supreme court in 1832; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congresses and served from March 4, 1835, to December 24, 1838, when he resigned, having been elected Governor; Governor of Maine 1839-1843, when he resigned, having been elected Senator; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Reuel Williams; reelected, and served from December 4, 1843, until his death on December 24, 1847; chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Congresses); died in Washington, D.C.; interment in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco, Maine.
Courtesy of Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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