James Appleton was an American abolitionist, early supporter of temperance, and politician from Maine.
Background
James Appleton was born on February 14, 1785 in Ipswich, Massachussets, United States. He was a descendant of Samuel Appleton, who came there from England in 1635. His father also bore the name Samuel. His mother, Mary, was the daughter of Rev. Timothy White of Haverhill, Massachusset.
Education
He had only ordinary educational advantages.
Career
Removing to Gloucester, Massachussets, he engaged in the jewelry business and also kept a public house. Though a Federalist in politics, as soon as the government had committed itself to war with England in 1812 he volunteered for service in the field.
He represented Gloucester in the General Court in 1813 and 1814. In 1832 he prepared and presented to that body a petition asking for a law prohibiting sales of liquor in less quantities than thirty gallons. In reply to opposition, he wrote three letters, which were published in the Salem Gazette during February 1832. This pioneer attempt to secure state prohibition failed, and the following year he left Massachusetts for Portland, Me.
In 1836 he was elected a member of the legislature of that state and the following year he was chairman of a special committee appointed to consider the license system. Its report, which was written by him, was, according to Neal Dow, "the first official document in the history of Maine in which prohibition is suggested as the true method of dealing with the liquor traffic. "
In 1838 he was chairman of a similar committee which presented a bill in favor of prohibition and provided for the submission of the matter to popular vote. In the legislature of 1839 he was again chairman of the committee on license laws and sought, without success, to secure the passage of a prohibitory law. His interest was not confined to temperance reform, however; he was also an ardent anti-slavery advocate. Among the tracts published by the New England Anti-Slavery Tract Association is one written by him on the Missouri Compromise. In 1842, 1843, and 1844 he was the candidate of the Liberty party for governor of Maine.
In his later years he returned to Ipswich and lived on the ancestral farm, but continued his interest in public affairs. He was active in his support of war measures during 1861, but died without seeing the cause for which he had labored victorious.
Achievements
Personality
Appleton possessed a great business ability and a gift for public speaking.
He had clearcut features, a high forehead, thick, waving hair, keen but kindly eyes with the suggestion of the dreamer in them, and a mouth and jaw indicative of grim determination.
Connections
On November 19, 1807 he married Sarah Fuller, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Hannah Bowers Fuller, by whom he had ten children.