Robert Hale Ives Goddard
Encyclopedia
Robert Hale Ives Goddard (1837–1916) was a prominent banker, industrialist, U.S. Army officer, state senator and philanthropist.
on September 21, 1837 to William Giles Goddard and Charlotte Rhoda Ives Goddard. He graduated from Brown University
with a Bachelor of Arts degree. On January 26, 1870, Goddard married Rebekah Burnet Groesbeck of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they had three children: William Groebeck Goddard, Madeline Ives Goddard, and Robert Hale Ives Goddard, Jr.
Goddard served with distinction in the military, enlisting as a private in the Union Army
on April 17, 1861, and rising rapidly though the ranks. He was commissioned as a lieutenant on September 11, 1862. He served as an aide-de-camp to General Ambrose Burnside
during the Civil War and afterward he served as military affairs adviser while Burnside served as Rhode Island Governor. After return to active service in 1874, he retired as a colonel on November 9, 1883.
In business he was engaged in textile manufacturing as president of the Goddard Brothers Company, known as Goddard Mills in Lonsdale, Rhode Island
. He was a long serving director of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company.
He served in the Rhode Island Senate
as an Independent from 1907 to 1908, as a member of the finance committee and as chairman of the education committee. Goddard had political roots in the Republican Party
but was well known as the leader of the Lincoln Party in Rhode Island, a short-lived anti-corruption movement in opposition to prominent politician Charles R. Brayton
. He was a staunch supporter of Rhode Island Governor James H. Higgins
, a notable political reformer. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States Senate in 1907 as a Democrat
in a three-way race against Samuel P. Colt
and veteran Republican Senator George P. Wetmore
. Goddard died in Providence on April 23, 1916.
The Goddard 489.2 acres (2 km²) Goddard estate in the Potowomut
neighborhood of Warwick, Rhode Island
was deeded to the State of Rhode Island in 1927 by the Goddard family. It is now the grounds of the Goddard Memorial State Park
Biography
He was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
on September 21, 1837 to William Giles Goddard and Charlotte Rhoda Ives Goddard. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree. On January 26, 1870, Goddard married Rebekah Burnet Groesbeck of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they had three children: William Groebeck Goddard, Madeline Ives Goddard, and Robert Hale Ives Goddard, Jr.
Goddard served with distinction in the military, enlisting as a private in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
on April 17, 1861, and rising rapidly though the ranks. He was commissioned as a lieutenant on September 11, 1862. He served as an aide-de-camp to General Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
during the Civil War and afterward he served as military affairs adviser while Burnside served as Rhode Island Governor. After return to active service in 1874, he retired as a colonel on November 9, 1883.
In business he was engaged in textile manufacturing as president of the Goddard Brothers Company, known as Goddard Mills in Lonsdale, Rhode Island
Lonsdale, Rhode Island
Lonsdale is a village and historic district in Lincoln and Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, near Rhode Island Route 146 and Route 95. The village was originally part of the town of Smithfield until Lincoln was created in the 1870s. William Blaxton settled in the area in...
. He was a long serving director of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company.
He served in the Rhode Island Senate
Rhode Island Senate
The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year...
as an Independent from 1907 to 1908, as a member of the finance committee and as chairman of the education committee. Goddard had political roots in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
but was well known as the leader of the Lincoln Party in Rhode Island, a short-lived anti-corruption movement in opposition to prominent politician Charles R. Brayton
Charles R. Brayton
Charles R. Brayton was a prominent Republican politician and lobbyist in Rhode Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. He was a staunch supporter of Rhode Island Governor James H. Higgins
James H. Higgins
James Henry Higgins was an American politician and the 50th Governor of Rhode Island from 1907 to 1909.- Origins and education :...
, a notable political reformer. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States Senate in 1907 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in a three-way race against Samuel P. Colt
Samuel P. Colt
Samuel Pomeroy Colt was an industrialist and politician from Rhode Island.He was born in Paterson, New Jersey on January 10, 1852, the youngest of six children born to Christopher Colt and Theodora Goujand DeWolf Colt of Bristol, Rhode Island...
and veteran Republican Senator George P. Wetmore
George P. Wetmore
George Peabody Wetmore was the 37th Governor and a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:George Peabody Wetmore was born in London, England, during a visit of his parents abroad. His father was William Shepard Wetmore, a wealthy Yankee trader. George Wetmore received his early...
. Goddard died in Providence on April 23, 1916.
The Goddard 489.2 acres (2 km²) Goddard estate in the Potowomut
Potowomut, Rhode Island
Potowomut is an isolated neighborhood and a peninsula in Warwick, Rhode Island. It borders the Town of East Greenwich to the southwest, North Kingstown to the southeast, and Greenwich Bay on all other sides....
neighborhood of Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
was deeded to the State of Rhode Island in 1927 by the Goddard family. It is now the grounds of the Goddard Memorial State Park