Gov. Oakley Chester Curtis

About

OAKLEY C. CURTIS, the fiftieth governor of Maine, was born in Portland, Maine on March 29, 1865. His education was attained in the public schools of his native state. Before entering into politics, Curtis had a successful career in the banking industry. He served as president of the Casco Mercantile Trust Company, as well as serving as the director of the U.S. Trust Company and the Merchants Trust Company. Curtis first entered public service in 1901, serving as alderman of Portland for one term. He also served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1903 to 1904, was a member of the Maine State Senate from 1905 to 1908, and served as the mayor of Portland from 1911 to 1914. Curtis won the 1914 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and then went on to win the general election by a popular vote. During his tenure, Maine statutes were amended, women and children’s’ labor laws were improved, traveling school libraries were authorized, and the Komoos Sieur de Montes National Monument was established. After running unsuccessfully for reelection, Curtis left office on January 3, 1917, and retired from public service. Governor Oakley C. Curtis passed away on February 22, 1924 in Falmouth, Maine.

Source

Sobel, Robert and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

The Political Graveyard

Governors of Maine--compiled by the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library