Born in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Graduate of Bowdoin College in 1823. Admitted to the bar in 1923 and practiced law in Maine. Married Ellen Maria Deering April 23, 1832. Father to two Civil War generals, James Deering Fessenden and Francis Fessenden.

Elected to the state legislature in 1831 and again in 1839. Elected to the House of Representatives and served 1841 to 1843. Served in the Senate 1854 to 1864. Appointed Secretary of the Treasury and served July 5, 1864, to March 3, 1865. Served in the Senate again March 4, 1865, until his death in Portland, Maine in 1869.

Fessenden appears on paper money:

25c Fractional Currency, third issue

$10 National Bank Note, second charter

bio: ApCAB; BDC; BDEB; DAB; Drake; EAB; NCAB 2; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H