Governor Benjamin Ames

BENJAMIN AMES, the third governor of Maine, was born in Andover, Massachusetts on October 30, 1778. His education was attained at Harvard University. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1806, and established a successful legal career. He served as the county attorney for Lincoln from 1807 to 1811, and served on the bench of the Common Pleas Court from 1811 to 1814. Ames entered politics in 1819, serving as a member of the Maine Constitutional Convention. He also was a member and speaker of the Maine House of Representatives from 1820 to 1823, and was a member and president of the Maine State Senate in 1824. On December 25, 1821, Governor William D. Williamson resigned from office, and Ames, who was speaker of the house at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. He served in this capacity until January 2, 1822, when he resigned. Five years later, he was reelected to the Maine House of Representatives, a position he held one term. Governor Benjamin Ames passed away on September 25, 1835.