William Jones (governor)
Encyclopedia
Early life
Jones was born in Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, into a family of Welsh origin. His grandfather William Jones (1691–1740) was born in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and settled in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original English Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of North America that, after the American Revolution, became the modern U.S...
.
Governor Jones was married to Anne Dunn.
Jones participated in the Revolutionary War. He was commissioned as Captain of marines on board the Providence by the end of the war. After the war, he became a Justice of the Peace.
Some records report incorrectly that he died April 22, 1822. Some of his death notices include:
Connecticut Courant, April 16, 1822, p. 3 and Boston Semi-Weekly Advertiser (MA), April 17, 1822:
In Providence, Hon. William Jones, aged 67, who was Governor of the State from 1811 to 1817.
Weekly Messenger (MA), April 18, 1822, p. 3:
DIED, In Providence, on Tuesday, the 9th inst. the Hon. William Jones, aged 67. The deceased was a patriot of the Revolution, and for six years Governor of the State.
He was buried at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, 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...
.
Political career
Jones was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1807. He was Speaker of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives two terms, in 1809-10 and 1810-11. Jones was a Federalist and won the gubernatorial election against incumbent James FennerJames Fenner
James Fenner was an American politician who served as an United States Senator as well as the seventh, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island . He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor of Rhode Island.Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island...
in 1811 by just a few hundred votes. He was re-elected five times, but having been defeated when seeking a seventh term, he retired from the public life. He was the only Federalist ever to serve as Governor in Rhode Island.
Governor William Jones was the uncle of the American naval officer, William Henry Allen
William Henry Allen
William Henry Allen was an American naval officer during the War of 1812.-Quotation [a1]:Influences: "His father, William Allen, on the breaking out of the American Revolution, was appointed a first lieutenant in the army...
.
