Born in Belgrade, Maine. Attended Waterville College, now Colby College, 1830 to 1831. Admitted to the bar in 1839. Married Charlotte Holland Vance in 1845. They had four children.

Elected to the Maine Senate and served 1854 to 1856. Elected Governor of Maine serving 1858 to 1860. Elected to the U.S. Senate and served January 17, 1861, to March 3, 1869. Appointed to the Senate in 1869 to fill the seat vacated by the death of William Pitt Fesenden. He served October 30, 1869, to July 7, 1876. Appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Grant and served June 7, 1876, to March 9, 1877. Served as U.S. Collector of Customs at Portland, Maine 1877 to 1883. He died at Augusta, Maine.

bio: *ApCAB; *BDC; BDEB; DAB; *Drake; *NCAB 6; *TCBDA; WWWA-H (*give date as 1813)