William Jones (politician, 1753)

William Jones

William Jones (born October 8, 1753 in Newport , Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , † April 22, 1822 ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Rhode Island from 1811 to 1817 .

Early years and political advancement

William Jones took part in the American Revolutionary War. After the war he accompanied the American delegation to the peace negotiations in Paris . Upon his return to Rhode Island, he became a justice of the peace and a member of the Federalist Party . In 1807 he was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives; between 1809 and 1810 he was its president. In the gubernatorial elections of 1811 he was able to narrowly beat incumbent James Fenner .

Governor of Rhode Island and additional résumé

William Jones took up his new office on May 1, 1811 and was able to exercise it after several re-elections until May 7, 1817. During his tenure, the British-American War fell , which was generally viewed in Rhode Island as unjust. Nevertheless, defensive measures had to be taken. Traditionally, since the founding of the United States, Rhode Island has not been on good terms with the federal government, whose claim to power they did not want to accept. In 1817, Jones failed in another attempt to be re-elected. He then withdrew from politics. William Jones died on April 22, 1822. He and his wife Anne Dunn had one child.

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

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