The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-21
Edward Kent.

Edward Kent, LII. d., for two terms gov
ernor of Maine. and for many years associate
justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, died at
his home in Bangor Saturday morning of heart
disease. Up to the Sunday preceding his death
he had been enjoying fair health but on that
day returned from long walk faint and ex-
hausted. From that time he gradually sank
till five o'clock Saturday morning, when he
breathed his last.
Judge Kent was born in Concord, N. H.,
January s, 1902, and graduated at Harvard
University in 1921, in the same class with Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Josiah Qaincy. Imme-
diately after leaving college he began the study
OF the law. which he pursued one year in his
native place, and two years under the guidance
OF Benjamin Orr in Topsham, in this State.
tie afterwards attended a course of lectures by
the late Chancellor Kent in New York city.
After completing his studies he came TO Maine
and settled in Bangor in 1926, where ba formed
partnership with the late Jonas Cutting, which
existed till the latter was raised to the bench in
1854. In 1927 he was appointed chief justice of
the Court of Sessions of Penobscot county, and
from 1929 to 1888 represented Bangor in the
Legislature. In 1886 he was chosen mayor of
that city, and again in 1887. In 1886 he was
the Wing candidate for governor, but was de-
feated by the Democratic nominee, Gov. Dun
lap. The next year, however, he was elected
over Gorham Parks, largely on account of his
personal popularity, as the Wing party was
largely in the minority. In the succeeding year
he was again candidate, but was defeated by
Gov. Fairfield; and the same was the case in
1889. In 1910, the year of the me morable
Harrison campaign, Gov. Kent again headed
the gubernatorial ticket of the Wings, and was
again pitted against Gov. Fairfield. The con-
test was one of the most exciting ever witnessed
in the State, and the triumph of Gov. Kent
gave great impetus to the national cause of
the Wings and was hailed by them all over the
country as the harbinger of victory. The fa-
nous lines, beginning, slave you heard the
news from Maine?" to which it gave rise. ara
familiar to almost every one.
During his first administration, Gov. Kent
recommended to the Legislature the system
then adopted under which our public lands
have been gradually taken up, by settlers. 1t
was during his second administration that the
boundary question with England caused SO
much excitement in this State, and nearly re-
suited in war. The question had been open for
sixty years, or from the provisional treaty of
peace, negotiated on the part of the British
government by Richard Oswold, in 1882. The
boundary therein adopted brought the Ameri-
can frontier within twenty miles of Quebec,
commanding the st. Lawrence, and cutting off
all communication between the Canadas and
the British maritime possessions. This defect
in the boundary the British government deter
mined to rectify, and so contended that Oswald's
lins ran far south of the boundary as claimed
BY the United States. Against this claim on
the part OF England Gov. Kent earnestly pro-
tested, insisting in his messages to the Legisla-
ture, on the maintenance of our territorial
rights unabridged, as defined by the treaty of
1888. At the conclusion of the Webster-Ash-
burton treaty, which gave up the line of 1888,
Gov. Kent, with Messrs. Preble, Kavanagh and
Otis, were sent to Washington to protest on be-
half of the State against its ratification. Gov.
Kent drew up remonstrance addressed to the
Senate. but Mr.. Webster brought about q con-
ference with the Maine delegation in Congress,
and the paper, after long discussion, was
suppressed, and the treaty ratified.
Gov. Kent was again a candidate for gov
OAhOA III iO1i3 Duu Was uolcdtcU ny 0ON. Il air
field. In 184S he was one of the delegates at
large to the national convention which nomi-
mated Gen. Taylor, and was the first to present
his name. On Gen. Taylor's accession he was
appointed consul at Rio Janeiro, and resided
there four years.
In the spring of 1854 he returned to Bangor,
and resumed the practice of the law. Five
years later he was appointed associate Justice
of the Supreme Court, of which forty years
before his uncle, Prentiss MelleD, had been ap-
pointed chief justice. AT the expiration of his
term he was re-appointed In 1873, on account
of his age, he retired, and was succeeded by the
Hon. John A. Peters. His last public service
was as a member of the commission to revise
the State constitution. In 1855 Colby Univer-
sity conferred upon him the title of LII. d.
Judge Kent was one of the pioneers of the
Republican party, and took an active part in
the campaign of 1856. Soon after his judicial
appointment withdrew him from politics.
Judge Kent was twice married. his first wife
was Miss johnson, of Hillsborough, n. H., by
whom he had several children, all of whom are
now dead. His second wife's maiden name
was lockwood. She, with one son, survives
him.
For half century Judge Kent has enjoyed
the respect and confidence of the people of
Maine. Public honors came to him early and
staid late. At thirty-fve his fellow citizens
elected him to the chief magistracy; at seventy
three they called him to aid by his ripe expe-
rience and sound judgment, in the work of
remodelling the constitution of the State. He
adorned every station which he was called to
fill. Every duty devolved upon him was care
fully and conscentiously performed. He was
an able lawyer, an upright judge, dignifed
and energetic chief magistrate. His private
like his public life was without a stain. Few
men have been more honored in life, and the
memory of few will be more revered in years
To