Daniel F. Davis
Encyclopedia
Daniel Franklin Davis was an American
politician
and the 37th Governor of Maine
.
on September 12, 1843. He entered the East Corinth Academy in 1863 but after a few weeks he enlisted in the Grand Army of the Republic
to fight in the Civil War
. He then studied at the Corinna Academy, and at the Wesleyan Seminary
in Kents Hill, Maine
. He then studied law and in 1869 was admitted to bar where he established his law career in East Corinth
.
in 1871. He held that position for four years. He the became a member of the Maine Senate
in 1875. He held that position until 1879. In 1879, he was nominated for the governorship of Maine by the Republican Party
. In the general election no candidate received a vote plurality. Davis was named as the legal governor after the Legislature
was called upon to decide who would serve as governor. He was in the governor's office from January 17, 1880 to January 13, 1881. During his administration, the enforcement of the prohibition
law was contested. Davis was not successful in his re-election bid.
from 1882 to 1886. He died on January 9, 1897.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the 37th 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....
.
Early life
Davis was born in born in Freedom, MaineFreedom, Maine
Freedom is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 645 at the 2000 census. Freedom is a residential and recreational area.-History:...
on September 12, 1843. He entered the East Corinth Academy in 1863 but after a few weeks he enlisted in the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
to fight in the 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...
. He then studied at the Corinna Academy, and at the Wesleyan Seminary
Kents Hill School
Kents Hill School is an independent college-preparatory school located in Kents Hill, Maine, outside of the state capital of Augusta. Kents Hill School instructs students in grades nine through postgraduate. Students attend Kents Hill from across over 50 communities in Maine,...
in Kents Hill, Maine
Kents Hill, Maine
Kents Hill is an unincorporated village in the northwest corner of the town of Readfield, Maine in Kennebec County, Maine, east of the town of Fayette, with which the village shares a zip code . The village's name comes from the farmer who owned the land before Luther Sampson bought it to start...
. He then studied law and in 1869 was admitted to bar where he established his law career in East Corinth
Corinth, Maine
Corinth is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,511 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was first settled in the late 1790s by the extended Daniel Skinner family and originally called "Ohio". There is still an "Ohio Street" in nearby Bangor, being a portion of...
.
Politics
Davis became 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...
in 1871. He held that position for four years. He the became a member of the Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
in 1875. He held that position until 1879. In 1879, he was nominated for the governorship of Maine by the Republican Party
Republican 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...
. In the general election no candidate received a vote plurality. Davis was named as the legal governor after the Legislature
Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate...
was called upon to decide who would serve as governor. He was in the governor's office from January 17, 1880 to January 13, 1881. During his administration, the enforcement of the prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
law was contested. Davis was not successful in his re-election bid.
Later life
After leaving office, Davis served as the collector of the port of BangorBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
from 1882 to 1886. He died on January 9, 1897.