James Fenner

James Fenner

James Fenner (born January 22, 1771 in Providence , Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , † April 17, 1846 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of Rhode Island three times between 1807 and 1845 . Between 1805 and 1807 he represented his state in the US Senate .

Early years and political advancement

James Fenner was a son of Arthur Fenner , who was governor of Rhode Island between 1790 and 1805. James Fenner attended Brown University until 1789 . He then served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives . Between 1805 and 1807 he represented his state as a class 2 senator in Congress as a member of the Democratic Republican Party . There he succeeded Christopher Ellery . After he was elected as the new governor of Rhode Islands, he resigned that mandate. He initially offered his Senate seat to Isaac Wilbur ; However, this refused. Thus the vacant seat went to Elisha Mathewson .

Triple Rhode Island Governor

James Fenner was first sworn in as governor on May 7, 1807. After successful re-election in the next few years, he was able to remain in office until May 1, 1811. In the years 1811 and 1812 he ran unsuccessfully. He then took a political break until 1824. That year, incumbent Governor William C. Gibbs declined to run again. Fenner then reapplied for this office. After his election victory and some re-elections, he was able to complete his second continuous reign between May 5, 1824 and May 4, 1831. As governor, Fenner supported agriculture in all of his reigns. He was an opponent of a strong federal government and opposed the planned protective tariffs, the expansion of the right to vote, the state property tax and the award of public contracts by the federal government. In Rhode Island's second phase of government, the school system was improved with the help of taxes and a state lottery.

After losing the gubernatorial elections of 1831, he withdrew from politics for a time. In 1842 he was a member and chairman of a commission to review the constitution of Rhode Island. In 1843 he ran again for the highest office in his state. This time he was a candidate for the so-called Law and Order Party , a splinter group of the Whigs . As before, he was against expanding the right to vote. His last phase of government between May 2, 1843 and May 6, 1845 he completed under the new state constitution.

Another résumé

In 1845 Fenner ran one last time for governor and was defeated by Charles Jackson . After that, his health deteriorated. He died in April 1846. He had four children with his wife, Sarah Whipple Jenckes.

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

• James Fenner in the National Governors Association (English)
• James Fenner in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• James Fenner in the database of Find a Grave (English)