John Fairfield

John Fairfield
United States Senator
from Maine
In office
December 4, 1843 – December 24, 1847
Preceded byReuel Williams
Succeeded byWyman B. S. Moor
13th & 16th Governor of Maine
In office
January 5, 1842 – March 7, 1843
Preceded byEdward Kent
Succeeded byEdward Kavanagh
In office
January 2, 1839 – January 12, 1841
Preceded byEdward Kent
Succeeded byRichard H. Vose
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1835 – December 24, 1838
Preceded byRufus McIntire
Succeeded byNathan Clifford
Personal details
Born(1797-01-30)January 30, 1797
Pepperellborough, Massachusetts (now Saco, Maine)
DiedDecember 24, 1847(1847-12-24) (aged 50)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeLaurel Hill Cemetery, Saco, Maine
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnna Paine Thornton (m. 1825-1847, his death)
Children9
OccupationAttorney

John Fairfield (January 30, 1797 – December 24, 1847) was an attorney and politician from Maine. He served as a U.S. Congressman, governor and U.S. Senator.

Fairfield was born in Pepperellborough, Massachusetts (now Saco, Maine) and attended the schools of York County. After serving in the War of 1812, he pursued a business career before deciding to become an attorney, and after in the office of an established lawyer and judge, Fairfield attained admission to the bar in 1826. He practiced in Saco and Biddeford, and became active in politics as a Democrat.

He was elected to the US House in 1834, reelected in 1836, and served from 1835 until 1838, when he resigned to become governor. Elected in 1838, he served from 1839 to 1841. He returned to the governorship in 1842, and served until resigning in 1843 to accept election to the U.S. Senate. He was elected to the final four years of the term in 1844, and served until his death.

Fairfield died in Washington, D.C., and was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.