Henry Lippitt

Henry Lippitt

Henry Lippitt (born October 9, 1818 in Providence , Rhode Island , † June 5, 1891 ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877 .

family

Henry Lippitt was a member of a well-known family of politicians from Rhode Island. His son Charles was also Governor of Rhode Island between 1895 and 1897. His other son Henry (1856-1933) was a member of the US Senate from 1911 to 1917 . His great-grandson John Chafee (1922-1999) was a US Senator, Secretary of State for the Navy and Governor of Rhode Island, and his great-great-grandson Lincoln Chafee , born in 1953, was also in the US Senate from 1999 to 2007.

Early years and business advancement

After finishing school, Henry Lippitt co-owned a cotton mill in Connecticut with his brother and father . Henry Lippitt was also involved in other textile processing companies and became a partner in the Manville Company in Lincoln . Over the years, Henry Lippitt climbed more and more rungs on his career ladder. He became President of the Silver Spring Bleaching and Dyeing Company . He also got into the banking and real estate business. As a member of the Rhode Island militia, he was involved in the crackdown on the Thomas Dorr rebellion in 1843 . During the Civil War , he was entrusted with the recruitment and drafting of conscripts in Providence County .

Political career

Henry Lippitt was a member of the Republican Party . In 1875 and 1876 he was his party's candidate for gubernatorial elections, which gave no clear results in either year. He was then elected twice by the legislature as the new governor, so he could exercise this office between May 25, 1875 and May 29, 1877. During this time he campaigned for an amendment to the state constitution, with which the tax legislation and the electoral law should be changed. He also dealt with the preparations for the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia .

After the end of his governorship, Lippitt held no further political office. He died in June 1891. He and his wife, Mary Ann Balch, had eleven children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Henry Lippitt in the National Governors Association (English)
• Henry Lippitt in the database of Find a Grave (English)