The Last Man Standing
James Ware Bradbury was born in 1802 at Parsonsfield, Maine. His father was Dr. James Bradbury, a “physician of eminence” in York County. As a child, Bradbury attended public schools in Limerick, Effingham, New Hampshire, Saco, and Gorham. At Gorham Academy his classmates included Nathaniel Dunn, George Washington Lane, and Seward Wyman. At Saco’s Thornton Academy his classmates included George Washington Pierce and David Shepley.
Bradbury started Bowdoin as a sophomore, at the age of 20. He spent his first year boarding at Captain McLellan’s with Thomas Ayer, Gorham Deane, and Patrick Henry Greenleaf. Perhaps Bradbury became close with Deane, as the next year the pair roomed together in Winthrop Hall. Senior year Bradbury continued to live in Winthrop with John Dafforne Kinsman. He was also a part of the Peucinian Society. Bradbury got in a modest amount of trouble at Bowdoin, as the Executive Government occasionally fined him for neglecting his work and unexcused absences. However, Bradbury was an excellent scholar at Bowdoin. His peers considered him one of the class’s “future statesman.” The college asked him to speak at class exhibitions in 1823 and 1825 and both times Bradbury chose topics controversial to a modern audience. In 1823, he performed an “English Dialogue, Between an English and a North American Savage,” along with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 1825, he gave an oration on, “The condition and prospects of the Mexicans, when conquered by Cortez.” In both pieces Bradbury sought to justify the colonization of America’s indigenous peoples. Bradbury also spoke at commencement on the topic of, “The probable Progress of Society.” He graduated third in the class and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
After Bowdoin, Bradbury spent a year teaching at Hallowell Academy. Then, he moved between Parsonfield and Saco, studying law under two judges. In 1829, he went to Effingham, New Hampshire where he opened up the first school for teachers in New England. Just a year later though, Bradbury moved to Augusta, Maine, the city he would remain in for the rest of his life. There he practiced law and quickly achieved a stellar reputation. In 1833 he became partners with Horatio Bridge, his former Bowdoin classmate. In the early 1830’s Bradbury was also the editor of the Maine Patriot, an Augusta-based Democratic newspaper. Bradbury cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson in 1828 and formed a political affiliation with the Democrats that would last until the end of his life. In 1834 Bradbury married Eliza A. Smith of Augusta. Eliza was viewed as “a woman of large business capacity possessing uncommon executive abilities,” and a devoted Christian committed to charitable work. The pair had four sons, James Jr., Henry, Thomas and Charles.
In the 1840’s Bradbury’s legal career shifted to a political one. He became a prominent supporter of James K. Polk and worked to elect him as the president of Maine’s electoral college. Bradbury also campaigned heavily for Texas statehood. Then, in 1847, Bradbury defeated Hannibal Hamlin to become a United States Senator. In the Senate, Bradbury supported the Compromise of 1850, chaired the Committee on French Spoliations and sat on the judicial committee. He also tried to pass a law forbidding presidents from replacing public servants for political reasons. In 1853, he retired from the Senate, but reflected upon his congressional career fondly.
After retiring from politics, Bradbury resumed his legal career and was viewed as one of the finest lawyers in the state. He amassed a large fortune and built a mansion in Augusta. In his later years, Bradbury was known for his charitable enterprises. He was a committed Congregationalist and when the Old South Church in Augusta burned down he provided the money to rebuild it. He also took an interest in Augusta’s school system and helped build its library. Additionally, he served as the President of the Maine Historical Society. Bradbury also took an interest in business. He founded the Augusta Savings Bank and invested in Maine’s railroads. Finally, Bradbury was an ardent supporter of Bowdoin. He was famous for attending every Commencement and reunion that the college held, including the one in 1875. He also served as an overseer for the school between 1850 and 1860.
Bradbury had a long life, even by the standards of today. He outlived three of his four children, every Senator he served with, and all other members of the Class of 1825. The last eight years of his life he had a reunion to himself at Bowdoin. Bradbury was a famous figure in Augusta in his later years, due to his enormous wealth and tenure on the Senate. Townspeople remembered him as, “the old gentleman with the white locks, the black beaver hat and the black Prince Albert coat who though so old would be seen as moving about with the agility of a man much younger.” Even in his 90’s he refused to stop travelling and taking daily horse-rides. He was often asked to give speeches, but refused, claiming that he “remembered how in times past he had been bored by gentlemen with long speeches.” Eventually, Bradbury caught bronchitis in 1901 and peacefully passed away from the disease at the age of 99. There was a quite a bit of drama regarding Bradbury’s will. Most of his massive fortune went to his living son and granddaughter and some went to Bowdoin to set up an oratory competition. Then Thornton Academy, Bradbury’s high school, sued, claiming the will was written under duress and Thornton was supposed to be a beneficiary. For the most part, however, Bradbury’s death was an occasion of great grief. Augusta closed all businesses on the day of his funeral and the service was packed with people. Bradbury’s legacy looms large in Maine and Bowdoin history.