The Biographical Dictionary of America/Andrew, John Albion

ANDREW, John Albion, war governor of Massachusetts, was born at Windham, Me., May 31, 1813; son of a prosperous merchant of that place. He was graduated at Bowdoin college in 1837, studied law in the office of Henry H. Fuller in Boston, was admitted to the bar in 1840, and practised his profession in Boston. He advocated the views of the Whigs, being a persuasive speaker and an active worker in that party until he joined the anti-slavery party of Massachusetts in 1849. He repudiated the fugitive slave law of 1850, and acquired considerable celebrity by his defence of fugitive slaves arrested in Boston and under process of law returned to their owners in Virginia in 1854. He was elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1858. He was at the head of the Massachusetts delegation to the Republican convention held at Chicago in 1860, and voted at first for William H. Seward, afterwards announcing the change of the vote of part of the Massachusetts delegates to Abraham Lincoln. On returning to Massachusetts his popularity was established and he was nominated for governor and elected, receiving the largest popular vote that had ever been cast for a candidate to that office. A close student of the times and far in advance as to the trend of public affairs, he anticipated civil war and bent all his energies in putting the state in a position to promptly meet any emergency. His purpose was declared in his inaugural address. He not only sought to place the militia of Massachusetts in thorough preparation for war, but endeavored to induce the governors of Maine and New Hampshire to co-operate with him. When the President's proclamation of April 15, 1861, was issued, he was ready with five infantry regiments, a battalion of riflemen, and a battery, and they were despatched to the defence of Washington. One of these regiments, the famous 6th Massachusetts, was assailed by a mob in passing through Baltimore. This regiment was the first to touch the southern soil and the first to sprinkle it with its blood. Governor Andrew was equally active in responding to all subsequent calls for troops and in caring for the sick and wounded in the field, and early in 1862 urged upon the government the necessity of emancipation, and the policy of employing colored troops in the war. In that same year he was prominent at a gathering — which he instigated — of the governors of the loyal states at Altoona, Pa. He formulated a plan and wrote an address which was issued for the encouragement of the national government. By his influence with the secretary of war, colored troops were recruited, and the first regiment organized was the 54th Massachusetts, which left Boston in May, 1863, and made a good record in the army. Governor Andrew was re-elected four successive years, declining the nomination offered him in 1865 to give attention to private business and to recruit his failing health. During his governorship he advocated a modification in the divorce laws of the state, which prohibited the marriage of a divorced person, and despite sharp opposition from the clergy his recommendation was substantially agreed to by act of legislature. Previous to the suspension of the habeas corpus act in 1864 he opposed the action of the Federal government in making arbitrary arrests of southern sympathizers in Massachusetts. He was opposed to capital punishment, and repeatedly recommended its repeal. As governor he sent to the legislature twelve veto messages, all but two of which were sustained. His farewell address, which he delivered to the legislature of Massachusetts, Jan. 5, 1866, advocated a temper of good faith and generosity to the south; one pregnant phrase being, "demanding no attitude of humiliation, inflicting no acts of humiliation," and excited intense interest at the time, not only in New England, but through-out the country and in Europe.

He was president of the first national Unitarian conference held in 1865, and there sought to direct the deliberations of that body to such a statement of faith as should meet the approval of those who accept the birth, life, mission and teaching of Jesus Christ as supernatural. On leaving the office of governor he was tendered, but declined, the presidency of Antioch college, Ohio. Returning to private life in 1866, Governor Andrew resumed the practice of law. He was married to Eliza Jane Hersey, of Hingham, Mass., on Dec. 25, 1848. Mrs. Andrew died June 12, 1898. He was president of the New England historic, genealogical society, 1866-'67, and a life member from 1863. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Amherst and from Harvard in 1861. See "Men of Our Times," by Harriet Beecher Stowe; "Memoir with Personal Reminiscences," by P. W. Chandler; and "Discourse," by the Rev. Elias Nason. His son John Forrester Andrew (1850-'95) was a representative in congress 1889-'93. Governor Andrew died in Boston, Mass., Oct. 30, 1867.