Spirits Alive is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland, Maine’s historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including promotion and education.

Lecture: The Silent Bicentennial

Join us for the last lecture in our 2021 series. Herb Adams will present a colorful history of how Maine celebrates its birthdays.

He will weave the story through 2 parts: “To Make the Angels Weep! Maine’s Struggle for Statehood, 1820,” and “The Big Parade—Centennial, 1920!”

Register today to join us virtually:

• Saturday, March 20

• 1:30pm

• Registration is limited to 100 attendees on Zoom

Learn more about our this and past Winter Lecture Series offerings on our website.

William Lloyd headstone by Janet Alexander

Subterranean Celebrity: William R. Lloyd

Died March 24, 1819

In the southeast corner, a plot houses the remains of 1 of 2 known British soldiers in Eastern Cemetery. The slate stone with sloped shoulders is carved with an urn and willow design by Elias Washburn. He designed fancy columns on either side, bordering the descriptive inscription:

In memory of
LIEUT. WILLIAM R. LLOYD
of the British Navy,
who died March 24, 1819:
aged 23 years.
a native of Plymouth in England.
He came to this Country for his health:
but it was the will of providence that
he should here finish his mortal career.
By strangers honoured & by strangers mourned.

Unfortunately we have more questions about Lt. Lloyd than answers. Who was this man? Why did he come here for his health? Was he sick when he arrived? Why Portland? Did he have family here? How did he get here? Where did he live? How long was he here? Who paid for his stone? This wasn’t long after the War of 1812. What role did he play as a British Navy member?

Do you have information on him? Can you find out about him?

You can suggest a subterranean celebrity! Just send an email—it doesn't take much to make a nice little story. An index of all of our Subterranean Celebrities is available.

Take a look at our Military Markers of Eastern Cemetery album on Flickr.

Support Eastern Cemetery

You can help Spirits Alive keep the Eastern Cemetery alive for generations to come. Through your support, you can help us, an ALL-VOLUNTEER organization, to continue to:

• Keep the gates open – encouraging the community to explore its open and safe green space

• Offer education about the cemetery and its residents to the public – through tours, lectures, and events

• Encourage and support the city in keeping the site clean and safe for visitors of all ages

• Preserve this incredible outdoor museum and sacred historic landscape