Bert M. Fernald

Bert Manfred Fernald (April 3, 1858 – August 23, 1926) was a United States Senator and the 47th Governor of Maine. He was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds for three terms.

Bert Manfred Fernald
47th Governor of Maine
In office January 6, 1909 – January 4, 1911
Preceded by	William T. Cobb
Succeeded by	Frederick W. Plaisted
United States Senator from Maine
In office September 12, 1916 – August 23, 1926
Preceded by	Edwin C. Burleigh
Succeeded by	Arthur R. Gould
Member of the Maine Senate
In office 1898-1902
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
In office 1896-1898
Personal details
Born	(1858-04-03)April 3, 1858 Poland, Maine
Died	August 23, 1926(1926-08-23) (aged 68) Poland, Maine
Political party	Republican

Biography

Fernald was born on April 3, 1858 in West Poland, Maine. He attended the public schools, Hebron Academy and a business and preparatory school in Boston. He then taught school (and was elected supervisor of schools in 1878), and then engaged in the canning, dairy, and telephone businesses. He was elected to the Maine House of Representatives and served 1896 to 1898 where his tenure was marked by his fine singing voice, and then 1898 to 1902 in the Maine Senate. He served as a Governor of Maine from 1909 until 1911. In 1910 he was elected president of the National Canners Association. In 1916 he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate by defeating Kenneth Sills who was the Dean of Bowdoin College to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edwin C. Burleigh. He was reelected in 1918 and 1924 and served from September 12, 1916, until his death. He died in West Poland, Maine on August 23, 1926, aged 68.

Legacy

The Fernald family farm is still in existence. Its white barn has the name Fernald Family Farm in black visible from the road.

In 1909, Fernald was a speaker at the annual meeting, in Portland, of the "New England Fat Men's Association", all of whose members had to weigh at least 201 pounds.[1]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

• United States Congress. "Bert M. Fernald (id: F000084)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

1. Gettysburg Times, Aug. 16, 1909, p. 2

External links

• Media related to Bert M. Fernald at Wikimedia Commons

Party political offices
Preceded by William T. Cobb	Republican nominee for Governor of Maine 1908, 1910	Succeeded by William T. Haines
First	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Maine (Class 2) 1916, 1918, 1924	Succeeded by Arthur R. Gould
Political offices
Preceded by William T. Cobb	Governor of Maine 1909–1911	Succeeded by Frederick W. Plaisted
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Edwin C. Burleigh	United States Senator (Class 2) from Maine 1916-1926	Succeeded by Arthur R. Gould