Lot M. Morrill

Lot Myrick Morrill (May 3 1813 – January 10 1883) was an American lawyer and public official who held several high‑level positions in the United States government. He served as the 28th governor of Maine, represented the state in the U.S. Senate for nearly fifteen years, and was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to lead the Department of Treasury during a brief but influential period in the late 1870s. Morrill’s career spanned local, state, and national politics, and he is remembered for his advocacy of hard currency, his reputation for integrity, and his focus on serving the public interest rather than partisan goals.

Early life and career

Lot Myrick Morrill was born on May 3 1813 in Belgrade, a community that at the time belonged to Massachusetts but would later become part of Maine. He was one of fourteen children born to Peaslee and Nancy (Macomber) Morrill, all of whom descended from English settlers who arrived during the Great Puritan migration. The Morrills were a large family; Lot’s older brother, Anson P. Morrill, would also become a prominent public figure.

Morrill received his early education in common schools before attending Waterville College at the age of eighteen. After a brief period as a student, he left college to serve for one year as principal of a private academy located in western New York. Returning to Maine, he studied law under Justice Fuller in Readfield and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He established a successful legal practice first in Readfield and later in Augusta, where he partnered with James W. Bradbury and Richard D. Rice.

During his early professional years, Morrill became known for his eloquence as a public speaker. He participated actively in the temperance movement and other civic causes, which helped him gain recognition among local political circles. In 1841, he moved to Augusta, where he continued to practice law while engaging with legislative committees in the state capital.

Morrill’s entry into politics began with his involvement in the Democratic Party. He served as chairman of Maine’s Democratic organization from 1849 until 1856 and was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1854. However, as national debates over slavery intensified during the mid‑1850s, Morrill shifted his political allegiance. By 1856 he had joined the Republican Party, a change motivated by opposition to the expansion of slavery rather than any party ideology.

In the same year, Morrill was elected to the Maine Senate and served as its president, becoming the first Republican to hold that position. His leadership in the state legislature paved the way for his election as governor of Maine in 1858. He held the governorship until January 1861, when he was chosen to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hannibal Hamlin, who had become Abraham Lincoln’s running mate.

Cabinet tenure

Morrill entered the United States Senate at a critical juncture in American history, just as the nation was on the brink of civil war. During his nearly fifteen years in the Senate, he sponsored legislation that outlawed slavery within Washington, D.C., and advocated for educational opportunities and suffrage rights for freed African Americans. He also supported measures aimed at strengthening federal authority during wartime.

In 1876, following the resignation of Secretary Benjamin Bristow, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Morrill to serve as United States Secretary of the Treasury. The Senate confirmed his appointment, and he assumed office in that capacity for a period of eight months, concluding his service in 1877. Throughout his tenure, Morrill was an outspoken supporter of the gold standard, emphasizing the importance of hard currency over paper money. His approach to fiscal policy earned him favorable coverage from both the American press and financial institutions on Wall Street.

When Morrill resigned from the Treasury Department to return to private life, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him as collector of customs in Portland, Maine—a position he held until his death in 1883. During this period, James G. Blaine was appointed by the governor of Maine to fill the Senate seat that Morrill had vacated.

Legacy

Lot Myrick Morrill’s public service record is marked by a consistent emphasis on financial prudence and ethical conduct. As Secretary of the Treasury, he championed the gold standard at a time when debates over currency were highly contentious, and his reputation for integrity was reflected in the positive reception from both the press and the business community. His earlier legislative efforts in the Senate—particularly those related to emancipation and civil rights—demonstrate a commitment to expanding opportunities for formerly enslaved individuals.

Morrill’s career also illustrates the fluidity of political affiliations during the mid‑19th century, as he moved from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in response to national issues rather than partisan loyalty. His service at multiple levels of government—from local law practice to state governance and federal administration—provides a comprehensive view of public life in post‑civil war America.

After retiring from active political roles, Morrill continued to serve the public as collector of customs until his passing on January 10 1883. His death marked the end of a career that spanned legal practice, state leadership, national legislation, and executive administration. The breadth of his experience and his focus on fiscal responsibility have left an enduring imprint on the institutions he served.