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"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" this famous quote establishes Maine at the fore front of our national identity. This state which is the first one to see the sun rise in morning has given birth to some of the most creative people the United States has ever seen. The long cold winters have brought forth a wonderful fruit.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow- poet Evangeline and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere was born in Portland Me. He was the first American poet to write about American themes. He immortalized Miles Standish and Hiawatha.

Dorothea Dix-Social Worker was born in Hampden Maine. Her early life spent in an abusive home set the stage for her to fight for the rights of the insane and women in jails. She was way ahead of her time with her views of social reform. Thanks to her efforts conditions improved for those confined.

Edna St.Vincent Millay the poet was born in Rockland Me. Among her credits is that she was the first woman to win a poetry Pulitzer Prize.

Stephen King-he is indeed the king of the macabre. Writer Stephen King is a native son who still chooses to make his home in Maine. He was born in Portland Me and has lived all over the state and attended the University of Me.

Patrick Dempsey-The Grey's Anatomy super hunk was born and raised in Lewiston Me.

Margaret Chase Smith-the only woman ever elected to both the House of Representatives and to the Senate was born, raised and taught school in Skowhegan Me.

John Ford-film maker director of the Quiet Man and The Grapes of Wrath was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Milton Bradley-game inventor was born in Vienna Me. Where would we be without the man who gave us the Game of Life and so many other wonderful games? He certainly changed the way that America spends its spare time.

Samantha Smith- (Manchester, Me) at the height of the cold war this young Maine native sent a letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov that not only touched his heart but made the world take notice of the fears of the children who had to live in the shadow of the threat of nuclear war. Her universal message was well received and she was invited to meet with the premier in Moscow. Her life was cut tragically short when she was killed at the age of 13 in a plane crash with her father.

People with a Maine connection

George Bush- Walkers Point in Kennebunkport is the location of the six acres Bush family compound. This has belonged to the Bush family for over 100 years. George W. is not as enthusiastic about it as his parents were and are.

Nathanial Hawthorne- spent some of his happiest times during his childhood vacationing in Maine. He also attended boarding school here and latter attended Bowdoin University in Brunswick Me.

Andrew Wyeth-began his painting career in Maine. The family vacationed there when he was a child and the beauty of the coastline inspired him.

Jamie Wyeth-artist has made his home in Maine since the 1970's. He is the third generation of this very talented family. One of his most famous paintings is a monumental pig.

Harriet Beecher Stowe-lived in Brunswick Maine while her husband taught at Bowdoin College. It was while she was living in Maine between 1850 and 1852 that she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Liv Tyler- shortly after her birth her mother moved with Liv who had the last name Rundgren at the time to Portland Maine. She lived there and attended school until she was 14. At age nine she discovered that Steven Tyler was her father and at age twelve she changed her name to Tyler.

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller- was born in Bar Harbor, former governor of New York and Vice President of the United States.

These are just a few of the people who were born in Maine and those who chose to make Maine their home.

Learn more about this author, Belle Starr.
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