Alonzo Garcelon (June 24, 1813 – July 13, 1906) was an American physician, Civil‑War surgeon, and politician who served as the 42nd governor of the state of Maine from 1879 to 1880. He was a member of the Democratic Party and is noted for his role in the contentious 1878 gubernatorial election, which resulted in the “Maine Republican–Democratic compromise” that temporarily altered the state’s political balance.
Early life and education
Alonzo Garcelon was born in Lewiston, Maine, to Asa and Lucia (Miles) Garcelon. He attended local public schools before enrolling at Bowdoin College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1835. He subsequently pursued medical studies at Harvard Medical School, receiving his M.D. in 1840.
Medical career
After completing his medical training, Garcelon established a practice in his hometown of Lewiston. He became known for his work as a physician and later served as a surgeon for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Garcelon was appointed as surgeon of the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment and later served at a military hospital in Boston, where he tended to wounded soldiers and managed medical logistics.
Political career
Garcelon entered public service through local politics, holding positions such as city alderman and member of the Maine State Senate (1859–1860). He was also appointed Commissioner of the Maine State Hospital for the Insane (now the Maine Mental Health Center) in 1862. A staunch Democrat in a predominantly Republican state, Garcelon was active in party organization and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1868.
Governor of Maine (1879–1880)
In the 1878 gubernatorial election, Garcelon secured a narrow plurality of votes, but no candidate achieved a majority required by the state constitution. The Maine Legislature, controlled by Republicans, initially refused to certify his election. After a prolonged dispute, a bipartisan compromise—known as the “Maine Republican–Democratic compromise”—was reached, and Garcelon was inaugurated on January 5, 1879.
During his one‑year term, Garcelon advocated for civil‑service reforms, improvements in public education, and the expansion of the state’s railroad infrastructure. He also worked to reduce state debt and supported legislation aimed at improving labor conditions. His administration was marked by efforts to reconcile partisan divisions in the aftermath of the contested election.
Later life and death
After leaving office in 1880, Garcelon returned to his medical practice in Lewiston and remained active in civic affairs, including involvement with the local historical society and charitable organizations. He married twice—first to Susan M. Abbot, who died in 1869, and later to Frances B. McCormick. He had several children, among them Henry F. Garcelon, who became a noted lawyer.
Alonzo Garcelon died on July 13, 1906, in Lewiston, Maine, at the age of 93. He was interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewiston.
Legacy
Garcelon’s governorship is historically significant for illustrating the political volatility of post‑Reconstruction New England and for the precedent set by the 1878 election compromise. His contributions to Maine’s public health and educational systems are recognized in state histories, and his name appears in local commemorations, including the Alonzo Garcelon Home for the Aged, an institution originally founded under his advocacy.
