Robert P. Dunlap

Robert Pinckney Dunlap ( born August 17, 1794 in Brunswick, Maine, † October 20, 1859 ) was an American politician and 1834-1838 Governor of the State of Maine.

Early years and political rise

Robert Dunlap attended Bowdoin College until 1815. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted in 1818 as a lawyer. He then began to practice in his home town of Brunswick. From 1821 to 1822 he was a deputy in the House of Representatives from Maine. Between 1824 and 1828, and again from 1830 to 1833 he was a member of the Senate of Maine. In 1829 he was also a member of the senior staff of the Governor. In 1833 he was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party as the new governor of Maine.

Governor and congressman

After Dunlap was confirmed in 1834, 1835 and 1836 respectively by the voters, he could remain in office until January 3, 1838. His first years in office were very low and he was very popular, which is also confirmed his re- election. With the economic crisis of 1837 came also the state of Maine in financial difficulties with which Dunlap had to deal with now.

After the end of his governorship to Dunlap moved temporarily retired from politics. In 1843 he returned with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington on the political scene back. Until 1847 he remained in the federal capital. Between 1848 and 1849 he was head of the customs authority at the port of Portland and 1853-1857 he headed the post office in Brunswick. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Bowdoin College. Robert Dunlap died in 1859 and was buried in his hometown of Brunswick. He was married to Lydia Chapman, with whom he had four children.