George M. Hanson

George M. Hanson (August 28, 1856 – April 4, 1924) was a Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.[1] Born in New Brunswick, he moved to the United States in 1858. He read law and was admitted to the bar at the age of 21.[2]

George M. Hanson
Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
In office
July 26, 1911 – April 4, 1924
Appointed byFrederick W. Plaisted
Personal details
Born(1856-08-28)August 28, 1856
Elmsville, New Brunswick
DiedApril 4, 1924(1924-04-04) (aged 67)
Portland, Maine
NationalityCanadian
Political partyDemocratic Party
EducationCalais Academy, Calais, Maine

Early life and education

Hanson was born on 28 August 1856 in Elmsville, New Brunswick.[2] Hanson immigrated to the United States when he was two years old in 1858 with his parents. His family settled in Calais, Maine, just 20 miles from Elmsville across the US-Canada border.[3][2] He graduated from Calais Academy, the predecessor to what is today Calais High School,[4] at the age of 19[5]

Hanson read law at the law office of Archibald MacNichol. He was admitted to the bar of Washington County in 1977, at the age of 21.[2][6]

Political career

Hanson ran for, and was successfully elected to be, Mayor of Calais in 1885, and again in 1905. He also served concurrently from 1895 until his appointment to the bench as Collector of Customs for the federal government within the Passamaquoddy District, today known as the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation. Hanson was appointed to this role by President Grover Cleveland.[7]

He made four unsuccessful attempts to run for the US House of Representatives to represent Maine's 4th Congressional District. The first election, in 1906, he was defeated by Republican incumbent Llewellyn Powers. After Powers' death, Hanson lost again in a special election to fill the seat on September 14, 1908 to Republican Frank E. Guernsey. He again lost to Guernsey in the regular election in November of that year, and a fourth time in 1910.[3]

Hanson was one of Maine's delegates to the Democratic National Convention in 1904.[3]

Judicial career

Hanson was appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on July 26, 1911 by Democratic Governor Frederick W. Plaisted.[2][8] He was the second appointment to Maine's highest court under Plaisted's tenure, the other being George F. Haley.[9]

He was reappointed on July 26, 1918 by Governor Carl Milliken,[10] serving thereafter until his death on April 4, 1924.

References
  1. "Cleaves Law Library | List of Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court". cleaves.org. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  2. "George M. Hanson". www.cleaves.org. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  3. "The Political Graveyard: Maine: U.S. Representatives, 1900s". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  4. "CalaisAlumni.org - Web Site for Alumni of Calais, Maine, Schools". www.calaisalumni.org. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  5. "Calais Academy, Calais, Maine, Class of 1875". www.calaisalumni.org. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  6. Maine Register Or State Year-book and Legislative Manual from April 1 ... to April 1 ... J.B. Gregory. 1891. p. 714.
  7. Interior, United States Department of the (1897). Official Register of the United States ... U.S. Government Printing Office.
  8. "Governors of Maine, 1820 - | Maine State Legislature". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  9. "Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justices, Chronological List". 2015-03-10. Archived from the original on 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  10. Maine Genealogy Archives, Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justices, 1820-1920.
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