Person Information

Biography

John Albion Andrew was born in Winslow, Maine and obtained his law degree from Bowdoin College in 1840. Andrew committed his life and career to advancing and defending social justice issues, including the abolition of slavery and legal protections for the formerly enslaved and those who worked on their behalf. Following John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry, Andrew helped organize legal aid for Brown. In 1859, Andrew served in the Massachusetts legislature and won the Governorship in 1860, serving in that post until 1865. His leadership helped Massachusetts prepare for the Civil War and he organized one of the first African American regiments, the 54th Massachusetts. Known as the great “Civil War Governor” and abolitionist who opposed the Fugitive Slave Law, he was one of the first governors to send troops to defend Washington, DC, in 1861. Andrew married Eliza Jones Hersey, of Hingham, Massachusetts, on December 24, 1848. The couple had five children. Andrew died suddenly at age 49 of a stroke and is buried in Hingham Cemetery, Massachusetts.

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Biography: 

John Albion Andrew was born in Winslow, Maine and obtained his law degree from Bowdoin College in 1840. Andrew committed his life and career to advancing and defending social justice issues, including the abolition of slavery and legal protections for the formerly enslaved and those who worked on their behalf. Following John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry, Andrew helped organize legal aid for Brown. In 1859, Andrew served in the Massachusetts legislature and won the Governorship in 1860, serving in that post until 1865. His leadership helped Massachusetts prepare for the Civil War and he organized one of the first African American regiments, the 54th Massachusetts. Known as the great “Civil War Governor” and abolitionist who opposed the Fugitive Slave Law, he was one of the first governors to send troops to defend Washington, DC, in 1861. Andrew married Eliza Jones Hersey, of Hingham, Massachusetts, on December 24, 1848. The couple had five children. Andrew died suddenly at age 49 of a stroke and is buried in Hingham Cemetery, Massachusetts.

Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.nps.gov/people/john-albion-andrew.htm
Title of Webpage: 
John Albion Andrew - Find A Grave
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Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.nps.gov/people/john-albion-andrew.htm
Title of Webpage: 
John Albion Andrew - National Park Service
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Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
Ancestry.com
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry.com
Website Viewing Date: 
Thursday, January 23, 2014 - 14:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
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Citation Notes: 
Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).