Neal Dow

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Neal Dow (March 20, 1804 – October 2, 1897) was an American temperance reformer and politician from Portland, Maine. A Quaker who grew up in a family business, Dow became a leading advocate for banning alcohol and is often called the "Napoleon of Temperance" and the "Father of Prohibition." He helped shape the temperance movement in the 19th century and believed that alcohol caused many social problems.

Dow rose to prominence in Maine by pushing for statewide prohibition. He helped elect the Maine Temperance Union as president in 1850 and then became mayor of Portland in 1851. Under his influence, Maine passed the Maine Law, the first state-wide ban on alcohol. He served another term as mayor from 1855 to 1856. During a 1855 riot over prohibition, Dow ordered the militia to fire on the crowd; one person was killed and several wounded, a tragedy that damaged his reputation and led him not to seek reelection right away.

After his time as mayor, Dow served in the Maine House of Representatives and continued to advocate for prohibition. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the Union Army and eventually rose to brigadier general. He fought in the Gulf region, was wounded at Port Hudson, and was captured by Confederate forces. He was exchanged in 1864 and resigned from the Army later that year.

Following the war, Dow stayed active in the temperance movement. He helped found the National Temperance Society, spoke across the United States and abroad, and in 1880 led the Prohibition Party’s presidential ticket. He also ran for mayor of Portland again in 1888 under the Prohibition Party.

Dow lived the rest of his life in Portland, continuing to advocate for temperance until his death at age 93. His long career is honored by the Neal Dow House, the former family home at 714 Congress Street, now a museum dedicated to his life and the temperance movement.