Representative Jonathan Cilley

Jonathan Cilley served as a Representative from Maine in the United States Congress from 1837 to 1839. A member of the Democratic Party, Jonathan Cilley contributed to the legislative process during 1 term in office.

Jonathan Cilley’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Jonathan Cilley participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Jonathan Cilley (July 2, 1802 – February 24, 1838) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine. He served part of one term in the 25th Congress, and died as the result of a wound sustained in a duel with another congressman, William J. Graves of Kentucky. Cilley was a native of Nottingham, New Hampshire, and was educated at Atkinson Academy and Bowdoin College. He settled in Thomaston, Maine, where he studied law and attained admission to the bar in addition to editing the Thomaston Register newspaper. A Democrat, Cilley served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1831 to 1836, and was Speaker in 1835 and 1836. In 1836, Cilley was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served part of one term and died as the result of a gunshot wound caused when he engaged in a duel with Representative William J. Graves. They fired at each other with rifles three times, and on the third shot, Graves hit Cilley’s femoral artery, causing blood loss, which resulted in Cilley’s death. He was temporarily interred at Congressional Cemetery and later reinterred at Elm Grove Cemetery in Thomaston.