Peter Mills (American Politician) - Early Life and Family

Early Life and Family

Mills was born in Farmington, Maine, and grew up in Gorham. After graduating cum laude from Harvard College in 1965, he served five years on United States Navy destroyers with several duty tours in the Vietnam War, for which he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. He later conducted intelligence missions against the Soviet Union for which he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.

After graduating second in his class from the University of Maine Law School in 1973, he spent 32 years working as a lawyer in Maine. For 23 years, he has owned Wright & Mills in Skowhegan. He is a founding member of the Somerset Economic Development Corporation and a founding member of FirstPark, a business park in central Maine.

Mills' family is also involved in public service. His father served in the Maine legislature, in the Navy, and in the federal justice department as U.S. Attorney. His sister, Janet Mills, was elected Maine Attorney General by the Legislature in December 2008. His sister Dora Mills was Maine's Public Health Director.

He has three adult daughters and three grandchildren. Two of his daughters are employed in the education field. One serves in the United States Army.

When not in the legislature, Mills practices law and manages woodlots in Cornville where he lives with his wife, Superior Court Justice Nancy Mills, and two dogs.

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