John Hubbard (Maine Politician) - Hubbard The Governor

Hubbard The Governor

In 1849 Doctor Hubbard was nominated by his party as its candidate for Governor and was elected over his Whig opponent, E. L. Hamlin. He was re-elected in 1850, the Whig candidate this time being William G. Crosby. By an amendment in the Constitution the beginning of the political year was restored to the first Wednesday in January, and the Government, by an act of the Legislature, was continued over without an election in 1851. Governor Hubbard was re-nominated in 1852, but while he received a large plurality of the popular vote he failed to get a majority, and William G. Crosby, the Whig candidate, was elected by the Legislature after a severe contest.

During his term of office, Governor Hubbard advocated the establishment of a reform school, the establishment of an agricultural college, the establishment of a female college, and suitable appropriations for the support of academies and colleges, nearly all of which measures were subsequently adopted. He urged that all the lands lying in this State owned in common or in severalty by Massachusetts and Maine be purchased by the State. A resolve was passed in 1852 authorizing him to take such action as he deemed proper, and the Governor with A. P. Morrill and John A. Poor entered into negotiations that finally resulted in the purchase of these lands at most satisfactory prices by the State. In 1851 he, as Governor, signed the first prohibition act known as the "Maine law." This caused considerable dissatisfaction in his party, and no doubt was the cause of his defeat that year.