Judah Dana

Background

Dana, Judah was born on April 25, 1772 in Pomfret, Connecticut, United States. Son of John Winchester and Mistress (Putnam) Dana.

Education

He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1795 and then studied law.

Career

He served as a United States Senator from Maine and as Judge of the Maine Court of Common Pleas during the early 1800s. In 1798, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Fryeburg, Maine, which was then a part of Massachusetts. Dana served as the district attorney for Oxford County, Maine from 1805-1811, and as judge of probate for Oxford County from 1811-1822.

From 1811-1823, he was judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

He was also a judge of the circuit court. In 1819, Dana was a delegate to the convention that framed the state constitution of Maine, and was a trustee for Bowdoin College from 1820-1843.

He was a bank commissioner from 1836-1837. An adherent of the Jacksonian Democratic Party, Dana was appointed United States Senator upon the resignation of Ether Shepley when Shepley became Judge of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Dana served as Senator from December 21, 1836 to March 3, 1837, when a successor was elected and qualified.

Dana died in Fryeburg, Oxford County, Maine, on December 27, 1845 (age 73 years, 246 days). He is interred at Village Cemetery in Fryeburg, Maine.

Achievements

• Judah Dana has been listed as a noteworthy senator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member Maine Executive Council, 1834. Member United States Senate (Democrat, filling vacancy) from Maine, December 7, 1836-1837.

Connections

Father:

John Winchester Dana

Mother:

Mistress (Putnam) Dana