Samuel Cony

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Samuel Cony
31st Governor of Maine
In office January 6, 1864 – January 2, 1867
Preceded by	Abner Coburn
Succeeded by	Joshua L. Chamberlain
Born	February 27, 1811 Augusta, Maine
Died	October 5, 1870 (aged 59)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mercy H. Sewall and Lucy W. Brooks (married twice)
Alma mater	Brown University
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Congregationalist

Samuel Cony (February 27, 1811 - October 5, 1870) was an American politician, who most notably served as the governor of Maine from 1864 to 1867.

[edit] Early years

Cony was born in Augusta, 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.

[edit] Career in law

Cony was admitted to the bar in 1832. He opened an office in Oldtown, Maine. He served as a judge of Probate Court for Penobscot County from 1840 to 1846.

[edit] Career in politics

Cony was a Democrat and he served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1835 to 1836. He also served as a member of the governor's executive council (1839), the land agent for Maine (1847-1850), the state treasurer of Maine (1850-1854), and mayor of Augusta (1854). He joined the Republican Party in 1862. He was re-elected in the Maine House of Representatives. He served for one term.

[edit] Governor of Maine

Cony was nominated by the Republican Party 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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
• Governor Samuel Cony. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.

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