Israel Washburn

US representative and governor, born in Livermore, Maine, USA. The eldest of 11 children, he studied law with an uncle, becoming a lawyer (1834–50) before going to the US House of Representatives (Whig, Maine, 1851–61). He left the Whig Party to form the anti-slave Republican Party in 1854 (and is credited with coining the party's name). As governor of Maine (1861–3), he provided extra volunteers and money to support the Union war effort. An unsuccessful senatorial candidate, he was a port collector (1863–78) and railroad president (1878–83) in Portland.

Israel Washburn, Sr. (1784–1876) was a Massachusetts politician and brother of Reuel Washburn. He married Martha Benjamin "Patty" Washburn and had eleven children with her, including seven sons (one child died shortly after birth, however). Several went on to pursue politics as well: Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B.

Israel Washburn, Sr.