Simon Moulton Hamlin

Simon Moulton Hamlin (August 10, 1866 – July 27, 1939) was an American educator, businessman, and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Maine for one term from 1935 to 1937. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented his constituents in the House of Representatives during a significant period in American history, contributing to the legislative process at the federal level.

Hamlin was born on August 10, 1866, and came of age in the post–Civil War era, a time of rapid industrialization and political realignment in the United States. Details of his early family life and upbringing are not extensively documented in the surviving public record, but his later pursuits in education and business indicate that he received sufficient early schooling to prepare him for professional and civic responsibilities. Growing up in New England in the late nineteenth century, he would have been influenced by the region’s strong traditions of public service, local self-government, and civic engagement.

Pursuing a career in education, Hamlin became an educator before entering business and politics. His work as an educator reflected the broader Progressive Era emphasis on public instruction, civic literacy, and the expansion of educational opportunities. Over time, he also engaged in business, combining his experience in the classroom with practical involvement in the economic life of his community. This dual background in education and business helped establish his reputation as a capable local leader and provided a foundation for his later political career.

Hamlin’s entry into elective office culminated in his service in the United States Congress. A Democrat from Maine, he was elected to the House of Representatives and served one term from 1935 to 1937. His tenure coincided with the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the early years of the New Deal, when Congress was deeply engaged in responding to the Great Depression through extensive legislative initiatives. As a member of the House, Hamlin participated in the democratic process at the national level and represented the interests of his Maine constituents during this transformative period, contributing to deliberations on federal policy and reform.

After leaving Congress in 1937, Hamlin returned to private life. Although detailed records of his later activities are limited, his earlier careers in education and business, combined with his congressional service, suggest that he remained a respected figure in his community. He lived out his remaining years in the same era of social and economic change that had shaped his public career, witnessing the continued evolution of federal policy and party politics in the late 1930s.

Simon Moulton Hamlin died on July 27, 1939. His life encompassed roles as an educator, businessman, and public official, and his single term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1935 to 1937 placed him among the Maine leaders who participated in the national legislative response to one of the most challenging periods in American history.