The Hon. David Dunn, right, photographed with an unidentified man in Mechanic Falls in the early 1890s.

David Dunn (1811-1894) was a former governor, holding office for three days - January 2 to January 4, 1844 - during a period when several men served short terms as acting governors until a full-term governor could be elected.

Born in Cornish on January 17, 1811, Dunn studied law and established a legal practice at Poland Corner in 1833. He was elected to the State Legislature, representing Poland from 1840-1844. He served as Speaker in 1843 and 1844, and then was elected to the State Senate in 1845. He was President of the Senate in 1846.

Dunn was recognized as "an ardent Democrat" and was awarded a clerkship in the U.S. Post Office by President Buchanan, serving in that role from 1857-1861.

He returned to Maine and practiced law at Mechanic Falls. He died at the age of 83 on February 17, 1894.

This photograph was taken sometime in the early 1890s, shortly before Dunn's death. The occasion for the photo is not known - it may have been on an election day, outside a polling place.