William P. Fessenden

(October 16, 1806 - September 8, 1869)

William Pitt Fessenden, son of the Hon. Samuel Fessenden, was born at Boscawen, New Hampshire. He was educated at Bowdoin College, Maine, where he graduated in 1823. He started his career as a lawyer. He was elected a member of the Maine Legislature (1831). When he took his seat he was the youngest member of this body. He was elected representative to Congress (1841) and Senator of The United States (1854). On the retirement of Mr. Chase from his post of Secretary of the Treasury, in the last year of the war, in July, 1864, Mr. Fessenden's was appointed, by President Lincoln, to that office. In his annual report to Congress, in December, Secretary Fessenden amply set forth the provisions by Congress and the measures taken by his predecessor and himself to supply the national wants and maintain the national credit. Having for nearly a year discharged the onerous duties of the office, he was, at his own request relieved, and was succeeded, in March, 1865, by Mr. Hugh McCulloch.