List of colonial governors of Rhode Island facts for kids
Here is a list of the important leaders who helped govern the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations from 1638 until 1776. These people held titles like judge, president, and governor, guiding the colony through its early years.
Contents
Early Leaders of Rhode Island
In the beginning, the different settlements in Rhode Island had their own leaders.
Governor of Providence
- Roger Williams was the first leader of the Providence settlement. He served from June 1636 to September 1644.
Judges of Portsmouth
These leaders helped make decisions for the Portsmouth settlement.
- William Coddington served from March 7, 1638, to April 28, 1639.
- William Hutchinson served from April 28, 1639, to March 14, 1640.
Judge of Newport
Newport also had its own judge.
- William Coddington served from April 28, 1639, to March 14, 1640.
Governor of Rhode Island (Portsmouth and Newport)
Eventually, Portsmouth and Newport joined together under one governor.
- William Coddington was the first governor for both towns, serving from March 14, 1640, to May 21, 1647.
Chief Officer under the 1643 Patent (Providence and Warwick)
Meanwhile, Providence and Warwick had their own leader under a special agreement called the Patent of 1643.
- Roger Williams was this chief officer from September 1644 to May 21, 1647.
Presidents Under the 1643 Patent
After 1647, the settlements of Providence, Warwick, Newport, and Portsmouth began to unite. They were led by "Presidents" under the Patent of 1643.
- 1st John Coggeshall of Newport; May 21, 1647 - November 27, 1647 (He passed away while in office.)
- 2nd Jeremy Clarke of Newport; May 16, 1648 - May 22, 1649
- 3rd John Smith of Providence; May 22, 1649 - May 23, 1650
- 4th Nicholas Easton of Newport; May 23, 1650 - August 1651 (He stepped down from his role.)
- 5th Samuel Gorton of Warwick; October 1651 - May 18, 1652 (This was for Providence and Warwick only.)
- 6th John Smith of Providence; May 18, 1652 - May 17, 1653 (This was for Providence and Warwick only.)
- 7th Gregory Dexter of Providence; May 17, 1653 - May 16, 1654 (This was for Providence and Warwick only.)
- 8th Nicholas Easton of Newport; May 16, 1654 - September 12, 1654
- 9th Roger Williams of Providence; September 12, 1654 - May 19, 1657
- 10th Benedict Arnold of Newport; May 19, 1657 - May 22, 1660
- 11th William Brenton of Newport; May 22, 1660 - May 22, 1662
- 12th Benedict Arnold of Newport; May 22, 1662 - November 1663
Governors of Newport and Portsmouth under the Coddington Commission
For a short time, Newport and Portsmouth had their own separate governors under a special agreement called the Coddington Commission.
- William Coddington of Newport; May 20, 1651 - May 17, 1653
- John Sanford of Portsmouth; May 17, 1653 - 1653 (He passed away in office.)
Governors Under the Royal Charter of 1663
In 1663, King Charles II of England gave Rhode Island a special document called the Rhode Island Royal Charter. This charter allowed the colony to govern itself and choose its own governor. This was a very important step for Rhode Island!
- Benedict Arnold November 1663 - May 2, 1666
- William Brenton May 2, 1666 - May 5, 1669
- Benedict Arnold May 5, 1669 - May 1, 1672
- Nicholas Easton May 1, 1672 - May 6, 1674
- William Coddington May 6, 1674 - May 3, 1676
- Walter Clarke May 3, 1676 - May 2, 1677
- Benedict Arnold May 2, 1677 - June 19, 1678 (He passed away in office.)
- William Coddington August 28, 1678 - November 1, 1678 (He passed away in office.)
- John Cranston November 8, 1678 - March 12, 1680 (He passed away in office.)
- Peleg Sanford March 16, 1680 - May 2, 1683
- William Coddington Jr. May 2, 1683 - May 6, 1685
- Henry Bull May 6, 1685 - May 5, 1686
- Walter Clarke May 5, 1686 - December 20, 1686 (His role was taken over by Governor Andros.)
Governor of the Dominion of New England
For a few years, from 1686 to 1689, Rhode Island's charter was put on hold. During this time, Sir Edmund Andros was the governor of a larger area called the Dominion of New England, which included Rhode Island. Andros was removed from power on April 18, 1689.
Colonial Governors under the Royal Charter of 1663 (Continued)
After the Dominion of New England ended, Rhode Island's Royal Charter was put back into effect. The colony then continued to elect its own governors.
The position was empty from December 20, 1686, to February 27, 1690.
- Henry Bull of Newport; February 27, 1690 - May 7, 1690
- John Easton of Newport; May 7, 1690 - May 1, 1695
- Caleb Carr of Jamestown; May 1, 1695 - December 17, 1695 (He passed away in office.)
- Walter Clarke of Newport; May 6, 1696 - around March 1698 (He stepped down.)
- Samuel Cranston of Newport; around March 1698 - May 1727 (He served for a very long time: 29 years and 2 months!)
- Joseph Jenckes of Providence; May 1727 - May 1732
- William Wanton of Newport; May 1732 - between December 3, 1733, and February 4, 1734 (He passed away in office.)
- John Wanton of Newport; May 5, 1734 - July 5, 1740 (He passed away in office.)
- Richard Ward of Newport; July 15, 1740 - May 4, 1743
- William Greene of Warwick; May 4, 1743 - May 1, 1745
- Gideon Wanton of Newport; May 1, 1745 - May 7, 1746
- William Greene of Warwick; May 7, 1746 - May 6, 1747
- Gideon Wanton of Newport; May 6, 1747 - May 4, 1748
- William Greene of Warwick; May 4, 1748 - May 7, 1755
- Stephen Hopkins of Providence; May 7, 1755 - May 4, 1757
- William Greene of Warwick; May 4, 1757 - January 23, 1758 (He passed away in office.)
- Stephen Hopkins of Providence; March 13, 1758 - May 5, 1762
- Samuel Ward of Newport; May 5, 1762 - May 4, 1763
- Stephen Hopkins of Providence; May 1763 - May 3, 1765
- Samuel Ward of Newport; May 3, 1765 - May 1, 1767
- Stephen Hopkins of Providence; May 1, 1767 - May 4, 1768
- Josias Lyndon of Newport; May 4, 1768 - May 3, 1769
- Joseph Wanton of Newport; May 3, 1769 - November 7, 1775 (He was removed from his position.)
- Nicholas Cooke of Providence; November 7, 1775 - May 6, 1778
It's interesting to know that the Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663 was used until Rhode Island created its own state constitution in 1842! If you want to learn about governors after 1775, you can check out the List of governors of Rhode Island.
See also
