politician march july governor colony rhode_island chief justice declaration independence prominent rhode_island family grandson served colony years deputy assistant speaker major great grandfather original providence sailing england cousin governor rhode_island colony royal charter child reader student sciences mathematics literature surveyor involved taking measurements transit venus sun began public service early age justice peace newly established town rhode_island soon justice serving times speaker president active civic affairs owner iron successful merchant portrayed satirical painting appointed justice chief justice body elected term governor colony served total years capacity contentious political issues day use paper money versus hard currency bitter political rival championed hard currency advocated use paper money rivalry men heated sued ward lost case pay costs contention men distraction government colony realizing attempted initially success ultimately agreed run office elected governor colony compromise candidate chief justice tenure principal player colony handling affair group rhode_island citizens boarded british revenue vessel burned waterline given additional important responsibility rhode_island delegates known colonies years earlier published pamphlet entitled rights colonies examined critical taxation policies summer hands signed declaration independence holding right hand left saying hand heart served september failing health forced resign strong colony rhode_island later named school ardent supporters institution chancellor died providence age buried called rhode_island greatest statesman ancestry early life born providence colony rhode_island second children william grandfather named prominent colonial affairs having served years deputy providence assistant speaker major grandmother daughter providence sister wealthy providence merchant aunt deputy governor great grandfather baptized somerset england son william arnold orphaned early age raised uncle sailed new_england arnold relatives including cousin governor colony royal charter early life spent wooded northern providence known area rhode_island schools area time books belonging family supplemented small circulating collection provided reading material consumed called close severe student filling spare hours life reading wrote attached early youth study books men reading gained skills surveying grandfather surveying skills revise streets create map later providence responsibility youth age given acres land father grandfather bestowed additional acres interest surveying interest astronomy scientific endeavors illustrated event older american revolutionary war june involved observation rare astronomical event transit venus face sun event determine distance earth sun case improve measure latitude providence noted scientific accomplishments commercial enterprise able obtain complete set necessary instruments including reflecting observatory erected hill providence street later named transit street honor event laid brown assisted group individuals including interested science observation able accurately determine latitude providence nearest second arc determined comparing observations similar observations cambridge england political pursuits began public service age justice peace newly formed town position held continuously clerk position held years moving providence following tenure justice peace justice general sessions sitting court clerk body years positions held time period include president deputy speaker elected deputy providence position held seven years speaker years sold farm moved settled providence devoted energy commercial interests help small providence grow merchant built owned outfitted ships owner vessel partnership sheriff providence son colonel boston commissioned group sea captains merchants including create satirical painting men stopped major trading port north coast south_america living time figure tavern scene showing affluent traders enterprises later life manufacturer partner brothers moses nicholas joseph establishing hope enterprise concerned iron works pig iron cannons use revolutionary war establishment son managed business decades elected term governor defeating predecessor small margin year occupied legislation work related pending war france defeat occupation crown point led colony send forces albany late previous year attorney general delegates rhode_island meeting new_york called convened discuss common defense collective colonies hold conference nations indians secure assistance french considered early plan uniting colonies principles plan rejected colonies great_britain war france developed february general_assembly ordered raising rhode_island men expedition new_york years office defeated governorship died office february governor divisive political issue day use hard money versus use paper money sided group issue newport interests versus providence interests years locked bitter rivalry westerly strong supporter hard currency champion newport town origin bitter animosity men commenced action ward putting damages case moved massachusetts fair trial judgment went default paid costs years men head powerful party went forth governor colony ward led wealth newport represented growing strength providence men likened arena life eventually lost ward finally elected governor won governorship signs reason men appeared following year ward wrote proposing resign chief seat government day knowledge letter wrote ward inviting accept position deputy governor vacated death man accepted proposal stage set future cooperation end term contentious issues age arose uniting divided elements common cause early stamp act passed houses parliament england act scheme colonies directing commercial legal documents valid court law written stamped paper sold fixed prices governmental officers directing duty applied newspapers parliament assuming right tax colonies additional duties sugar coffee articles required lumber iron colonies exported england news act infuriated colonists invited colonies congress delegates meet new_york discuss relief taxes august ward governor passed resolutions following lead virginia rhode_island appointed stamp distributor attorney general refused execute office sovereign lord people island general assembly met september choosing delegates new_york congress appointing committee consider stamp act committee reported resolutions pointed allegiance british crown grievances removed ultimately act repealed news reaching colonies public conflict independence delayed abandoned event great importance future rhode_island colony found agreement act incorporating college rhode_island passed men strongly supported institution higher learning colony trustees appearing list trustees school generous supporters school chancellor position held death rhode_island election contested beat ward widest margin previous elections proposed ward men relinquish claims elections agree compromise candidate ward accepted proposal elected governor adversaries met united friendship remainder lives rights colonies examined november pamphlet published pamphlet broad distribution criticism taxation parliament directed primarily stamp act helped build reputation revolutionary leader text begins words liberty greatest blessing men enjoy slavery heaviest curse human nature capable goes present clear logical review relationship american colonies mother country paper received widespread circulation brought approval colonies called remarkable document issued period preceding war revolution massachusetts governor wrote paper conceived higher strain sent colonies paper rhode_island massachusetts virginia paper printed widely recognized leaders public opinion colonies chief justice appointed justice long title general delivery chief justice court position held governor following total years governor years appointed chief justice court served october simultaneously serving delegate important events dealt final tenure chief justice march deputy governor working providence sent letter concern governor newport having consulted chief justice sessions expressed alarm british schooner cruising disrupting traffic stopping searching commercial ships letter sessions wrote consulted chief justice opinion commander vessel right use authority body colony previously applying governor showing warrant sworn exercise office informs common custom colony sessions went request governor measures bring ship commander account chain threatening correspondence ensued governor commander lieutenant commander superior admiral night june party colonists attacked vessel burned waterline officially sessions outraged incident offered colony assistance bringing perpetrators justice retribution british authorities rhode_island officials took visible steps find burned ship scenes sessions attempts identify find attackers royal commission appointed british investigate incident demanded indicted person sent england trial threat local liberty prompted colonists form loyalist massachusetts governor aggravated colonists urging britain rhode_island charter sessions conferred chief justice lawyer moses brown men drafted letter massachusetts statesman replied urging rhode_island remain defiant stall matters appealing creation royal commission governor head commission sessions attempts aims commission coordinated efforts lose evidence threaten potential witnesses discredit testified vast majority rhode_island citizens supportive attackers kept quiet identities year incident royal commission terminated single indictment convened ward chosen delegates rhode_island age senior delegate delegates attended albany congress years earlier previous years developed hands greatly affected ability write seating congress wrote sits oldest form bent thin locks forehead age honorable service hands shake lap congress called protest actions great_britain secure rights privileges colonies ward predicted independence come war associates congress said powder ball decide question gun bayonet finish contest engaged bring minds mode adjusting quarrel better retire time elected delegate met following april attacks concord lexington congress convened manage war effort eventually declare independence great_britain july national postal system devised adopted appointed general idea implemented rhode_island month earlier december committee report plan colonies naval armament knowledge shipping business particularly useful member naval committee established congress purchase outfit man operate ships new participation committee instrumental framing naval legislation drafting rules regulations necessary govern fledgling organization american war independence american naval squadron launched february influence secure position commander chief new navy brother appointment proved unfortunate nearly unanimous vote rhode_island colony declared absolute independence great_britain exactly months later july performed supreme act adopting united_states declaration independence aged stephen support right hand left signed document remarking hand heart gathering founding fathers depicted famous declaration independence easily distinguishable gentleman standing wearing hat future united_states president appreciated contributions congressional sessions writing governor rhode_island seventy years age kept alive business experience judgment useful kept conversation till clock custom drink day till clock evening jamaica spirit water gave wit humour anecdotes science learning read greek roman british history familiar particularly pope flow soul reading bring read eat drink days gentlemen temperate drank excess drank immediately converted wit sense knowledge good humour inspired similar qualities slavery like declaration independence slave owner mentioned slaves consisting negro man woman little boys bequeathed close members family tender instructions care highly unusual coming slave owner negro woman wife anne treated negro man oldest son treated life rendered easy comfortable proved lived years circumstances changed instrument provisions october wrote following document principally finding goodness god blessed gospel jesus christ lord blessed spirit taught honestly obey keeping rational creatures capable taking care providing state freedom sic inconsistent holy felt self sufficient rational creatures god thought freedom slaves responsibility end refused slave woman cost membership meeting rationale simple children needed appears remaining slaves freed death living semi independently years death serving introduced bill prohibited slaves colony anti slavery laws new united_states pressures occurring colony led greater restrictions slave trade greatest pressure applied comprised large percentage rhode_island population second wife consequence active follower faith likely compelling reason begin freeing slaves introduce bill forces acting institution included influence minister poor profit margin derived trade new_england death legacy september poor health forced resign return home rhode_island remained active member rhode_island general assembly died home providence july age buried helped found subscription library member town rhode_island later named liberty ship named honor ship sink german surface warship world war largely self educated instrumental establishment college english colony rhode_island founding trustee fellow reverend moses brown baptist reverend baptist reverend reverend served brown chancellor home originally located corner providence moved twice death times locations street located street corner benefit street edge campus diary reverend wrote knew man penetrating sic genius subtlety deep intriguing adding man noble resolution glorious patriot given strong accolades numerous historians including arnold simply called greatest statesman rhode_island fiction musical tells story drafting signing declaration independence stephen main character played veteran character actor depicted meaning politician readily alcoholic owns loyal dog allowed wait inside independence hall force personality helps continental congress asked vote opening debate virginia resolution independence representative rhode_island declares seen heard issue dangerous couldn talked hell yes debating present providence mob decided attack case charles ward family age married daughter scott great great granddaughter early providence wife youngest sister famed minister said providence sarah seven children lived maturity sarah died september age following death married daughter widow unrelated anne children younger brother commander chief brother william celebrated merchant seven children wife included oldest child married october great granddaughter men came found providence married second john married cousin died smallpox spain wife daughter robert granddaughter wealthy providence merchant great granddaughter early providence died infancy married great grandson early providence baptist minister killed indians nova scotia simon died boy george born married daughter father second wife ancestry ancestry comes dictionary rhode_island descends king edward england mother great grandmother
Stephen Hopkins (politician)