Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Seldon Connor

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Years of service
  
1861–1866

Role
  
Former Governor of Maine

Rank
  
Brigadier General

Education
  
Tufts University


Battles/wars
  
American Civil War

Name
  
Seldon Connor

Resigned
  
January 8, 1879

Seldon Connor

Born
  
January 25, 1839 Fairfield, Maine (
1839-01-25
)

Place of burial
  
Forest Grove Cemetery, Augusta, Maine

Allegiance
  
United States of America Union

Commands held
  
19th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Died
  
July 9, 1917, Maine, United States

Previous office
  
Governor of Maine (1876–1879)

Service/branch
  
United States Army, Union Army

Battles and wars
  
American Civil War

Selden Connor (January 25, 1839 – July 9, 1917) was an American soldier, banker, and politician who was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of Maine.

Biography

Selden Conner was born in Fairfield, Maine, and in 1859 graduated at Tufts College, as well as studying law in Vermont. While attending Tufts University, he was a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity.

Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Connor entered the military service in May 1861 as a private in the 1st Vermont Infantry, but became ill with chronic catarrh, recovering the following winter. In August 1861 was commissioned as lieutenant colonel of the 7th Maine Infantry. Selden became Colonel of the 19th Maine Infantry in January 1864, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers on June 11, 1864. General Selden was incapacitated from active field service due to his injuries and was mustered out in 1866.

After the war, Connor began involvement in political issues in 1868, becoming an assessor of the Internal Revenue, as well as serving as the regional collector of internal revenue in 1874. In 1875, Connor was a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial race, to which his nomination was successful, moving onwards to win the General Election. During his time in politics, Connor advocated civil service reform, and supported the resumption of specie payments. Connor was also responsible for promoting a free public school system, in which he was successful. Connor resigned from office on January 8, 1879, after failing to win reelection.

Subsequently, he was United States pension agent from 1882-86. Connor was active in veterans affairs, and in 1890 became president of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. From 1896-99, he was the senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. In 1897, he was again appointed as a pension agent. His address on Hannibal Hamlin was published in 1909. Connor remained a prominent figure in Maine politics, and also served as president of the Northern Banking Company.

Selden Connor is buried in Augusta, Maine.

References

Seldon Connor Wikipedia