Edward Kavanagh (April 27, 1795 – January 22, 1844) was a United States representative and the 17th Governor of Maine.

Born in Newcastle in the Massachusetts District of Maine to Irish Catholic immigrants from County Wexford.

[4] Kavanagh's public career began with a plea to the framers of the Maine Constitution to include an article for official religious toleration.

[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1834 to the Twenty-fourth Congress, and was appointed Chargé d'Affaires to Portugal on March 3, 1835, and served until his resignation in June 1841.

Less than four weeks later, Kavanagh died in Newcastle; interment was in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Damariscotta Mills.