A statesman, John Fairfield served Maine for more than a decade as governor and congressman. Born in 1797, Fairfield died a short 50 years later, but not before he accomplished a great deal. Because an 1848 fire destroyed virtually all the school's records, all that is known about Fairfield's life as a Thornton student comes from an 1813 enrollment book that was saved from the fire, which lists him as a student in the newly formed academy. He later served his alma mater, becoming a Thornton Academy trustee around 1833. A Bowdoin College graduate admitted to the bar in 1826, Fairfield soon made a name for himself in politics. While serving Maine in the U.S. House from 1835 to 1839, it was FairfieldÕs demands for an investigation into a famous duel that led to that practiceÕs end. He next won his first gubernatorial campaign and became MaineÕs 13th governor, serving for five years. It was Fairfield who summoned troops to defend MaineÕs northeast boundary against encroachments from Great Britain. As a result, he was sent to Washington as senator from 1843 to 1847 to defend MaineÕs right to her northeast territory. His wife was Anna Paine Thornton, daughter of Thomas G. Thornton, for whom Thornton Academy is named.

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