Edward Kavanagh

Edward Kavanagh (* April 27, 1795 in Newcastle, Lincoln County, Massachusetts, † January 22, 1844 ) was an American politician and from 1843 to 1844 governor of Maine. In this state he was also a member of the House of Representatives of the United States.

Early years and political rise

Born in present-day Maine Edward Kavanagh attended Montreal Seminary in Canada, the Georgetown University in Washington DC and the St. Mary's College in Maryland. There, he graduated in 1813. After a subsequent study of law and then was admitted to the bar he began in Damariscotta to work in his new profession. Kavanagh's political career began in 1824 as an alderman of Newcastle. This office he held for three years. Between 1827 and 1830 he was a delegate in the House of Representatives from Maine. In 1830 he sat in the Senate of Maine; 1831 to 1835 he represented his state in the U.S. House of Representatives. Between 1835 and 1841 he was an American ambassador in Portugal. He was then elected to the State Senate, where he served as its president 1841-1843. During this time he was also a member of a commission to settle the border conflict in the northeast of the country. The conflict was finally resolved in 1842 by the Webster - Ashburton Treaty.

Governor of Maine

As on March 7, 1843, Acting Governor John Fairfield resigned from his post to go to Congress, Kavanagh had to end its Unopened tenure as Senate president. Now between 7 March 1843 to 1 January 1844, he served as governor. On January 1, Kavanagh resigned from his post and the President of the State Parliament, David Dunn, exercised the office of governor for two days until January 3, 1844. However, the term of office of elected new Governor Hugh J. Anderson began on January 5. Therefore, the new Senate President John Dana had to take over the post of governor for a day. Edward Kavanagh died on January 20, 1844, three weeks after his resignation.