Maine's Famous People

General Joshua L. Chamberlain 1828 - 1914.

General Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine in 1828. He later moved to Brunswick where he studied at Bowdoin College until 1862 when he volunteered his services to the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. As a lieutenant colonel, Chamberlain distinguished himself in the Battle of Gettysburg by successfully turning back confederate attacks on Little Round Top, an accomplishment for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. This event was arguably the turning point of this epic battle. Chamberlain is also famous for being chosen by Union General Ulysses Grant to receive the formal surrender of weapons and colors of Lee's Army of the Northern Virginia at the Appomattox Court House. After attaining the rank of general, Chamberlain returned home to a hero's welcome and later served as the president of Bowdoin College. He was also elected to four terms as Maine's Governor.

http://www.curtislibrary.com/chamberlain.htm

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen 1940 - Present.

William Cohen was born in Bangor, Maine and studied at Bowdoin College. Secretary Cohen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1973 where he served until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1979. Just a few of Cohen's accomplishments while serving as a Senator for Maine included sponsorship of the GI Bill of 1984 and his co - authoring of the Oversight Reform Act of 1991. Cohen's achievements were recognized by President Clinton in 1996 when he nominated him for the Secretary of Defense position. After confirmation by the Senate, William Cohen was sworn in as the nation's 20th Secretary of Defense in 1997.

http://www.library.umaine.edu/cohen/

Dorothea Dix 1802 -1878.

Born in Hampden, Maine, Dorothea Dix pioneered care and treatment for the mentally ill. During her travels to hospitals and prisons across the country, Dix observed the deplorable manner in which the mentally ill and handicapped of this nation were being treated. Dix petitioned state legislatures to allocate funding for the establishment of properly run mental institutions. During the Civil War, Dix served as the supervisor of nurses for the Union army. Once the war ended, Dix picked up right where she had left off and continued her work as an advocate for the mentally ill and handicapped.

http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=48

Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller 1833 - 1910.

Born in Augusta and educated at Bowdoin College, Melville Fuller became the only native of Maine selected as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Fuller presided over the Court from 1888 until his death in 1910. During his tenure, Fuller took part in several of the most controversial cases in this nation's history including Lochner v. New York and Plessy v. Ferguson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melville_Fuller

Hannibal Hamlin 1809-1891.

Born in Paris (Paris Hill), Maine, Hannibal Hamlin became the first person from Maine to serve as Vice-President of the United States. He entered the national political arena in 1843 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1848. Impressed with Hamlin's stance against slavery, Abraham Lincoln chose the Maine native as his running mate in his successful bid for the Presidency in 1860. Hamlin served as Vice-President for one term before returning to the U.S. Senate for two more terms.

http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0131060-0&templatename=/article/article.html

George Mitchell 1933 - Present.

George Mitchell was born in Waterville and studied at Bowdoin College. After a distinguished career in the legal field, Mitchell was named a U.S. District Court judge by President Carter in 1979. His judicial appointment was short lived, however, as newly appointed Secretary of State Edmund Muskie recommended, and then Governor Joseph Brennan appointed Mitchell to complete the remaining two years of Muskie's term as Senator. Mitchell went on to a remarkable career as Senator of Maine. During this time, Mitchell served on several committees, including the Finance Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Mitchell was also appointed to the Select Committee on the Iran - Contra Affair which aided his election to the post of Senate Majority Leader in 1988. Despite retiring from the Senate in 1994, Mitchell has remained active in politics. His most recent accomplishment was his brokerage of the peace accords in Northern Ireland.

http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mitchell/index.html

Secretary of State Edmund Muskie - 1914 - 1996.

Muskie was born in Rumford, Maine and studied at Bates College. He began his political career as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later served for two terms as Maine's Governor. In 1958, Muskie was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served for 22 years. He became President Carter's Secretary of State in 1980 and served as in integral member of the Tower Commission during the Iran - Contra Scandal. Muskie also ran for President in 1972 and was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President in the 1968 election. A graduate program for public policy was established in his name at the University of Maine.

http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie_archives/

Senator Margaret Chase Smith 1897 - 1995.

Skowhegan native Margaret Chase Smith was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948. making her the first women ever elected to this position and also the first women to serve in both houses of Congress. Smith distinguished herself in office by being one of the few politicians to openly stand against the "Red Scare" politics of the 1950's. Smith also made history by running for President in 1964, becoming the first woman to be seriously considered for nomination.

http://www.mcslibrary.org/

Samantha Smith 1972 -1985.

In 1982, Manchester native Samantha Smith captured the hearts of the world when she expressed her fears of the possible threat of nuclear holocaust in a now famous letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov. Touched by the sincerity of this young Maine girl's letter, Andropov invited Smith to visit the Soviet Union, making her one of our country's youngest ambassadors for peace. Smith and her father were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1985, however, her legacy of peace and goodwill still lives on.

http://www.samanthasmith.info/

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807 - 1882.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine and was educated at Bowdoin College. Longfellow became one of the best loved American poets of all time with works such as 'The Song of Hiawatha' and 'The Courtship of Miles Standish'. He earned great fame as one of the first poets to use themes of the American landscape and native American culture as the focus of his work. At the young age of 19, Longfellow was asked by Bowdoin College to serve as their chair of Modern Languages.

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/longfellow_bio.html