William Greene (politician, 1731)

William Greene (born August 16, 1731 in Warwick , Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , † November 29, 1809 ibid) was an American politician .

Life

Little is known about William Greene's origins and early life. What is certain is that he completed an apprenticeship as a surveyor . Greene got his first political experience in 1774 at the age of 13 as an errand boy in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. His political career began in 1776 when he was elected a judge at the Rhode Island Supreme Court and served so a few months until February 1777. His last appointment as chief judge of his home state took place in February 1777.

Greene spent his military service in the National Guard . When British troops controlled Newport in 1776 , Greene became a member of the Council of War and was promoted from Captain General to Commander in Chief of the Rhode Island Military during the War of Independence .

In May 1778 Greene was elected governor of Rhode Island and served eight years until May 1786. Since no party system had been formed in the USA at that time, he was non-party. After his tenure, Greene sucked back into private life that he shared with his wife Catherine (1731-1794) and their five children. The couple had married in 1762.

Greene only stepped once more into the light of the political public, when he was elected to Electoral College in 1793 and voted for a second term from George Washington .

William Greene died at the age of 78, his grave is now in his hometown of Warwick.

Web links

• William Greene in the National Governors Association (English)
• William Greene in the database of Find a Grave (English)