Seldon Connor

Selden Connor (January 25, 1839 – July 9, 1917) was an American soldier, banker, and politician who was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of Maine.

Biography
He was born in Fairfield, Maine, and in 1859 graduated at Tufts College, as well as studying law in Vermont. While attending Tufts University, he was a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity.

Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Connor entered the military service in May 1861 as a private in the 1st Vermont Infantry, but became ill with chronic catarrh, recovering the following winter. He served as the lieutenant colonel of the 7th Maine Infantry from August 1861, rising to the rank of colonel in January 1864. Connor later joined the 19th Maine Infantry, and was severely wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness. He was commissioned as a brigadier general of volunteers, but in 1866 was mustered out of service.

After the war, Connor began involvement in political issues in 1868, becoming an assessor of the Internal Revenue, as well as serving as the regional collector of internal revenue in 1874. In 1875, Connor was a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial race, to which his nomination was successful, moving onwards to win the General Election. During his time in politics, Connor advocated civil service reform, and supported the resumption of specie payments. Connor was also responsible for promoting a free public school system, in which he was successful. Connor resigned from office on January 8, 1879, after failing to win reelection.

Subsequently, he was United States pension agent from 1882-86. Connor was active in veterans affairs, and in 1890 became president of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. From 1896-99, he was the senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. In 1897, he was again appointed as a pension agent. His address on Hannibal Hamlin was published in 1909. Connor remained a prominent figure in Maine politics, and also served as president of the Northern Banking Company.

Connor is buried in Augusta, Maine.