 In 1853 Washburn traveled to England to research English constitutional law . While he was away , the Whig Party nominated him as its gubernatorial candidate ; he did not learn of his nomination until his ship reached Halifax , Nova Scotia . In the election he defeated Henry W. Bishop ( Democrat ) and Henry Wilson ( Free Soil ) with 46 % of the vote . Since a majority of votes was at the time required to win , the election was determined in the state senate . Washburn was the last governor elected in this fashion ( plurality voting was enacted in 1855 ) ; he would also be the last Whig governor . During his one year in office , he successfully promoted and enacted significant pieces of legislation on a broad social welfare agenda , including measures concerning debt relief , assistance to the poor and insane , and financial aid for female medical students . 
