Adam Phillips Leighton

Adam Phillips Leighton, Sr. (April 6, 1851-1922) was an American politician from Maine. He served as Mayor of Portland, Maine from 1908–1909. A resident of the West End, his historic home is located at 261 Western Promenade and is located on the National Register of Historic Places. Leighton was a businessperson and is considered the "father of the picture post card industry". Leighton was born in April 1851 on a farm in West Falmouth, Maine and moved with his family to Portland in 1861. He attended local public schools before graduating from Westbrook Seminary. In 1867, at the age of 16, Leighton began work as a clerk with Chisholm Brothers Publishing, which was then owned by future paper magnate Hugh J. Chisholm. He married his wife, Isadore M. Butler, on April 30, 1873. The Leighton family had four children. His youngest, Adam Phillips Leighton, Jr. made his career as a medical doctor. As Chisholm Brothers expanded and acquired news agency privileges on the Grand Trunk Railway, Leighton advanced in the company. He was placed in charge of the companies business at the Grand Trunk Railway Station. He became vice-president of that operation and pioneered the practice of placing newspapers and magazines on railroad cars. He later became involved in the manufacture of chewing gum.