Emery John San Souci (July 24, 1857 – August 10, 1936) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

and

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

from

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 ...

. He served as

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

and as the 53rd

Governor of Rhode Island The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, o ...

Early life and career

San Souci was born in

Saco, Maine Saco is a city in York County, Maine, York County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,381 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General ...

, the son of Euzebe San Souci and Marie Louise (Couett) San Souci. As a small child he moved with his family in 1860 to St. Albans, Vermont. His father was a member of the

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confedera ...

and was killed in battle in 1864. San Succi attended school in St. Albans until he was eleven. He left school to work so he could help his mother raise the family. He worked as a clerk in

Biddeford, Maine Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Poo ...

, before working as a shoe clerk in

Greenfield, Massachusetts Greenfield is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,768 at the 2020 census. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Val ...

, and

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 1877, he moved to

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

, to work for a shoe making company. He worked for that company until 1890 when he opened a shoe and clothing store business with his brothers in Providence. The company became very successful, and he served as secretary and treasurer of the company.

Political career

San Souci held many political positions in Providence, and served on the Providence City Council from 1900 to 1907. In 1908 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Pothier, and served in that position for six years. He was elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1914, and was reelected in 1916 and 1918. He served as lieutenant governor from 1915 to 1921. In 1921 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island, in large part due to the strong support of women voters. 1921 was the first year women were allowed to vote in state elections in Rhode Island. He served as governor from January 4, 1921, to January 2, 1923, and did not win the nomination for governor in 1922 in large part to his handling of a large textile strike. He called in the state militia to handle the strike, and he lost the support of many in his party. In 1923

President Harding Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of the most popular sitting U.S. presidents. ...

appointed him Collector of the Port of Providence. He won reappointment under Presidents

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...

and

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

, and held the position until his retirement in 1935. He also served as director of the Union Trust Company of Providence and as director of St. Vincent de Paul Infant Asylum. San Souci died at his home in Providence on August 10, 1936. He is interred at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery in

Bloomfield, Connecticut Bloomfield is a suburb of Hartford in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town's population was 21,535 at the 2020 census. Bloomfield is best known as the headquarters of healthcare services company Cigna. History Originally land ...

Family life

San Souci and his wife Minnie A. Duffy had two daughters, Mary Louisa San Souci and Euphemia Maybelle San Souci.

References

External links

*
National Governors Association political biography

{{DEFAULTSORT:San Souci, Emery 1857 births 1936 deaths American people of French-Canadian descent Catholics from Connecticut Catholics from Maine Catholics from Rhode Island Catholics from Vermont Republican Party governors of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governors of Rhode Island People from Saco, Maine Place of birth missing People from St. Albans, Vermont Politicians from Hartford, Connecticut Providence City Council members

Early life and career

Political career

Family life

See also

References

External links