Governor Joshua Hall

JOSHUA HALL, the eighth governor of Maine, was born in Lewes, Delaware on October 22, 1768. His education was limited and attained in the common schools of his native state. After working as a Methodist preacher, Hall entered into politics. He represented Frankfort in the General Court in 1814, 1816, 1818 and 1819, and was a member and speaker of the Maine House of Representatives in 1830. After Governor Enoch Lincoln died in office, Nathan Cutler, who was president of the senate at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. However, Cutler’s senatorial term expired in January 1830, and consequently, the Maine Supreme Court ruled that his term as acting governor also had expired. On January 6, 1830, Cutler resigned from office, and Hall, who was speaker of the house at the time, succeeded him to the governor’s office. Hall served as acting governor until February 9, 1830. He then retired from political life, and returned to his preaching career. Governor Joshua Hall passed away at the age of ninety-four on December 25, 1862.