Alonzo Garcelon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alonzo Garcelon
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| 36th Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 8, 1879 – January 7, 1880 |
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| Preceded by | Seldon Connor |
| Succeeded by | Daniel F. Davis |
| Member of the Maine Senate | |
| In office 1855–1856 |
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| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1853–1854 1857–1858 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 6, 1813 Lewiston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 1906 (aged 93) Medford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery Lewiston, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Whig, Free Soiler, Republican |
| Alma mater | Bowdoin College Medical University of Ohio |
| Profession | Physician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Surgeon General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Alonzo Garcelon (born May 6, 1813 – died December 8, 1906) was an important leader in Maine. He was the 36th Governor of Maine and also served as a top doctor (called a surgeon general) for Maine during the American Civil War.
Early Life and Education
Alonzo Garcelon was born in Lewiston, which is now part of Maine. At that time, Lewiston was part of Massachusetts. His family were French Huguenots, a group of French Protestants.
Garcelon went to several schools, including Monmouth Academy and Waterville Academy. To help pay for his education, he taught school during the winter months. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1836. Later, in 1839, he finished his medical studies at the Medical College of Ohio. After becoming a doctor, he returned to Lewiston to start his medical practice.
Besides being a doctor, Garcelon also helped start the Lewiston Journal newspaper in 1847. He was involved in politics early on. He served in the Maine House of Representatives and later in the Maine Senate.
Garcelon also supported education. He donated money to Bates College in Lewiston and even worked there as an instructor and trustee. His son, Alonzo Marston Garcelon, later became the Mayor of Lewiston.
Service and Politics
During the American Civil War, Alonzo Garcelon served as the Surgeon General for Maine in the Union Army. This meant he was the chief medical officer for the state's soldiers.
After the war, Garcelon became unhappy with the Republican Party. He disagreed with their plans for rebuilding the Southern states, which was called "Radical Reconstruction." Because of this, he decided to join the Democratic Party.
In 1871, he was elected as the mayor of Lewiston. Then, in 1879, he was elected as the Governor of Maine. He served one term as governor, which lasted until 1880.
A Tense Election
During his time as governor, there was a big disagreement about an election. This event is sometimes called the "Greenback" controversy. Governor Garcelon looked into claims that there had been problems with how people voted. He decided that the Democratic Party, not the Republican Party, had won the most seats in the state legislature.
This decision caused a lot of tension. A famous senator named James G. Blaine came to Augusta, the state capital, with many armed supporters to protest the results. To keep order, Governor Garcelon called out the state militia. Luckily, a peaceful solution was found thanks to the leader of the militia, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. This prevented a serious conflict from breaking out.
Alonzo Garcelon passed away in Medford, Massachusetts. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Lewiston, Maine.
Legacy and Honors
Alonzo Garcelon is remembered in several ways. Bates College has a sports field named after him, called Garcelon Field. There is also the Alonzo Garcelon Society, which helps students from the local area get scholarships to attend Bates College. In 2008, Garcelon's family gave a large collection of his family's old papers and writings to the Bates College Special Collections Library.
