Arthur Fenner (December 10, 1745October 15, 1805) was an American politician who served as the
fourth Governor of
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
from 1790 until his death in 1805. He has the seventh longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at days. Fenner was a prominent
Country Party (
Anti-federalist
Anti-Federalism was a late-18th century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The previous constitution, called the Articles of Con ...
) leader. Around 1764, Fenner joined several others as a petitioner for the chartering of the
College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the original name for
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
).
Early life
Fenner was born in 1745 to a prominent family in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...
in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was one of the original Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded by Roger Williams. It was an English colony from 1636 until ...
, the eleventh of twelve children. His parents were Arthur Fenner, Jr. (October 17, 1699 – January 21, 1788) and Mary Olney (September 30, 1704 – March 18, 1756). The Fenner family owned a wharf known as Fenner's Wharf, where the Gaspee Affair
The ''Gaspee'' Affair was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution. HMS ''Gaspee'' was a British customs schooner that enforced the Navigation Acts in and around Newport, Rhode Island, in 1772. It ran aground in shallow ...
occurred in 1772. The wharf was located near what is now 155 South Main Street in Providence.
His ancestor Captain Arthur Fenner (1622–1703) had been a member of the Town Council, an associate of Roger Williams
Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation ...
, and fought in King Philip's War
King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...
.
During the American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
he served as a lieutenant in Hitchcock's Regiment in 1775 during the Siege of Boston. He then served as a captain in Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment
Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment was a regiment raised for the defense of Rhode Island during the American Revolution.
History
The regiment was one of two formed by the state of Rhode Island between November 1775 and January 1776 to deter an attack by ...
of Rhode Island state troops in 1776. For many years before becoming governor, Fenner served as the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.
Governorship
He served as governor of Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
from 1790 to 1805 and died in office. Fenner was governor of Rhode Island when it became the last of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution on May 29, 1790. The following quote is from the ''Dictionary of American Biography'':
:In March 1790, the contest between Federalists
The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''.
History Europe federation
In Europe, proponents of de ...
and Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalism was a late-18th century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The previous constitution, called the Articles of Con ...
in Rhode Island reached its height, (and) the long-delayed convention to decide upon the adoption of the Constitution (had) been called, (with) Governor Collins having become unpopular in consequence. (With the elections approaching,) Deputy-Governor Owen was offered the governor-ship by the Anti-Federalists, but declined to serve. 'A movement,' says Arnold, 'was made in Providence to form a coalition party. The Newport committee united with them in proposing (to put on the ballot) Arthur Fenner, an Anti-Federalist. The Anti-Federalists triumphed, and on May 5, 1790, the general assembly declared Fenner governor and Samuel J. Potter deputy-governor.
:Opposition to entering the Union was so strong, … (that a vote to adopt the Constitution) was delayed until the last week in May, and when on the 29th, a decision was reached, the vote stood thirty-four to thirty-two in favor of adopting the Constitution.
:Governor Fenner was very popular, and continued in office, serving at the time of his death.
Significant events during Fenner's time in office:
* George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
visited Rhode Island (August 1790)
* The Providence Bank was established (1791)
* The Weybosset Bridge was rebuilt (1792)
* The Blackstone Canal was begun (February 1796)
* President John Adams
John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...
visited Providence (1797)
* The Great Fire on the west side of South Main Street, opposite the foot of Planet Street, did $300,000 worth of damage (January 21, 1801)
Personal life
Governor Fenner married Amey Comstock Amey may refer to:
* Amey plc, a UK infrastructure support company, subsidiary of the Spanish company Grupo Ferrovial
People
* Colin Amey, Canadian singer
* Jessica Amey (born 1976), Canadian swimmer
* Otis Amey (born 1981), American footballe ...
(born ca.
CA or ca may refer to:
Businesses and organizations Companies
* Air China (IATA airline code CA)
* CA Technologies, a U.S. software company
* Cayman Airways, a Cayman Islands airline
* Channel America, a defunct U.S. television network
* Classi ...
1749; died September 5, 1828, in her 80th yr.), daughter of Gideon Comstock of Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield is a town that is located in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville. The population was 22,118 at the 2020 cens ...
.
His son, James Fenner
James Fenner (January 22, 1771April 17, 1846) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator as well as the 7th, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island (on three occasions). He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor ...
, gave up his position as a US senator to be elected governor two years after his father's death. James served from 1807 to 1811, from 1824 to 1831, and from 1843 to 1845. Arthur and Amey Fenner were members of the First Baptist Church in America
The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, also known as the First Baptist Meetinghouse. It is the oldest Baptist church congregation in the United States, founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Pr ...
, at Providence. They had five children:
# Arthur Fenner, Jr. (born November 9, 1766 – died September 27, 1837); fife
Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross (i ...
r in various companies; lived at Fairfield, New York
Fairfield is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,627 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Fairfield, Connecticut.
The town is north of the village of Herkimer and east of Utica. The hamlet of Fairfiel ...
in 1827; married Lydia Sabin (born 1766), daughter of Thomas Sabin, on December 8, 1787. They had Harriet Elizabeth (born February 7, 1805 – died May 2, 1829).
#Amy (born February 16, 1769 - died May 7, 1772, age 3).
#James Fenner
James Fenner (January 22, 1771April 17, 1846) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator as well as the 7th, 11th and 17th Governor of Rhode Island (on three occasions). He was the son of Arthur Fenner, the fourth governor ...
(born January 22, 1771 – died April 17, 1846); Governor of Rhode Island, married Sarah Jenckes.
#Joseph (born ca. 1773 – died July 18, 1797 in Providence, age 24).
#Sally (born 1778 – died August 21, 1794 at Newport, age 16).
References
External links
Gov. Arthur in the Fenner Family Tree
Brown University Charter
Official Site of the Governor of Rhode Island
Genealogy of the Fenner Family
*
George Washington correspondence
from the Rhode Island State Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenner, Arthur
1745 births
1805 deaths
Brown University people
University and college founders
Governors of Rhode Island
Country Party (Rhode Island) state governors of the United States
Baptists from Rhode Island
History of Christianity in the United States
History of the Thirteen Colonies
Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence)
Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island