Dec. 4, 1816: The Massachusetts General Court dissolves a Brunswick convention held to determine the results of a Sept. 2 referendum on whether Maine should separate from Massachusetts.
![](https://stage.centralmaine.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
The decision is a blow to pro-separatists, who badly mismanaged their accounting of the referendum result.
Dec. 4, 1899: U.S. House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed (1839-1902) of Portland resigns from Congress after 11 terms in the House.
Reed and President William McKinley initially opposed a war with Spain in 1898. When McKinley switches his position and favors the war, Reed, an ardent anti-imperialist serving in an age when the American empire is expanding, refuses to back his fellow Republican. He leaves office instead.
![](https://stage.centralmaine.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Thomas Brackett Reed photographed at the window of his house on Deering Street in Portland around 1900. Collections of Maine Historical Society, courtesy of VintageMaineImages.com, item #140
Joseph Owen is an author, retired newspaper editor and board member of the Kennebec Historical Society. Owen’s book, “This Day in Maine,” can be ordered at islandportpress.com. To get a signed copy use promo code signedbyjoe at checkout. Joe can be contacted at: jowen@mainetoday.com.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story