What was neal dow known for

Neal Dow House

Historic house in Maine, United States

United States historic place

The Neal Dow House, also known as Gen. Neal Dow House, is an historic house found at 714 Congress Street in Portland, Maine. It was built in 1829 for noted politician and prohibitionistNeal Dow (1804-1897), and was later designated a National Historic Landmark for that association. Dow was the author of the first prohibition law passed by the Maine legislature in 1851 (and giving such laws the epithet "Maine law"). He was known as a tireless, internationally known activist for the temperance movement. Dow's house was a center of activism in his lifetime, and is now the headquarters of the Maine chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Architecture and building history

The Dow house is a large, 2+1⁄2-story, 17-room brick structure with late Federal styling. It is roughly rectangular in shape, with three distinct sections. A main block, 2+1⁄2 stories in height and three bays wide, anchors the corner lot on which it stands. A 2+1⁄2-story ell extends to th

Neal Dow

American Prohibition advocate and politician

Neal Dow

In office
April 24, 1855 – April 24, 1856
Preceded byJohn B. Cahoon
Succeeded byJ. T. McCobb
In office
April 24, 1851 – April 24, 1852
Preceded byJohn B. Cahoon
Succeeded byAlbion Parris
Born(1804-03-20)March 20, 1804
Portland, Maine, U.S.
DiedOctober 2, 1897(1897-10-02) (aged 93)
Portland, Maine, U.S.
Political partyWhig, Free Soil, Republican, Prohibition
SpouseMaria Cornelia Durant Maynard Dow
ProfessionPolitician
Signature
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861–64
RankBrigadier general
Commands1st Brigade, 2nd Division of the XIX Corps
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Neal Dow (March 20, 1804 – October 2, 1897) was an American Prohibition advocate and politician. Nicknamed the "Napoleon of Temperance" and the "Father of Prohibition", Dow was born to a Quaker family in Portland, Maine. From a young age, he believed alcohol to be

Spartacus Educational

Neal Dow, the son of a tanner, was born in Portland, Maine, in 1804. He was brought up a Quaker and was taught to avoid alcohol. As an adult he joined the temperance movement.

A successful businessman, Dow established the Young Men's Abstinence Society in Portland. He also led the campaign that resulted in Maine passing the nation's first prohibition law in 1846.

Dow served as a general in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1865 he joined with James Black in establishing the National Temperance Society and Publishing House and became a leading figure in the propaganda campaign in favour of preventing people drinking alcohol.

Dow, like most supporters of prohibition, was a member of the Republican Party. However, after the Civil War, the party came under the influence of the Brewers Association of the United States. In 1869 Dow and his friends formed the Prohibition Party.

In 1880 Dow was chosen as the party presidential candidate. However, he won only 10,305 votes. Neal Dow died in 1897.

By John Simkin (john@spartacus-educational.com) © S

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