Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Blaine, James Gillespie
BLAINE, James Gillespie, born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Jan. 31, 1830. He entered the preparatory department of Washington College in his thirteenth year, and graduated in 1847 at the head of his class. He then went to Kentucky, where he was Professor of Mathematics in a military institute. Here he met his wife, who was from Maine, and at her persuasion removed to Augusta, Maine, where he has since resided. Adopting journalism as a profession, he became part owner and editor of the Kennebec Journal in 1854, and editor of the Portland Daily Advertiser in 1857. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Maine, and served in the State Legislature from 1858 to 1862, the last two years being Speaker. In 1862 he was elected a Representative in Congress, and was re-elected for each successive term until 1876. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1869 to 1874, and was again the Republican candidate in 1875, but was defeated, the Democrats then having a majority in that body. In 1876 and in 1880 he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President, but was defeated by Mr. Hayes in the one case and by Mr. Garfield in the other. In 1876 Mr. Blaine was appointed U.S. Senator from Maine to fill a vacancy, and was subsequently elected for the term expiring in 1883. This position he resigned in March, 1881, to accept the Secretaryship of State offered him by Mr. Garfield. The assassination of the latter caused Mr. Blaine to tender his resignation to Mr. Arthur, which was accepted, Dec., 1881. Since that date he has filled no office.