The

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

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 ...

is the chief legal advisor of the Government of the State of Rhode Island and oversees the State of Rhode Island Department of Law. The attorney general is elected every four years. The current Attorney General is Peter F. Neronha.

History of the Rhode Island attorneys general

In 1643, Roger Williams obtained a patent (charter) from the English Parliament. The towns of Providence and Warwick elected a Chief Officer under the authority of this Parliamentary Patent of 1643. In 1647, the towns of Newport, Portsmouth, Providence, and Warwick formed a united colony under the Parliamentary Patent. In May 1650, the offices of "Attorney General for the Colonie" and "Solicitor" were created.

List of attorneys general of Rhode Island

Attorney General under the Patent of 1643

* William Dyer: May 1650 – 1651

Solicitor under the Patent of 1643

*Hugh Built: May 1650 – 1651

Attorney General after the Coddington Commission

John Easton John Easton (1624–1705) was a political leader in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, devoting decades to public service before eventually becoming governor of the colony. Born in Hampshire, England, he sailed to New England ...

, of Newport: May 1653 – May 1654 (Attorney General only for Portsmouth and Newport following the repeal of the Coddington Commission, and before the re-unification of the four towns into a single government)

Attorneys general under the Patent of 1643

* John Cranston, of Newport May 1654 – May 1656 *

, of Newport May 1656 – May 1657 *

John Greene, Jr. John Greene Jr. (1620 – 27 November 1708) was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations who spent almost his entire adult life in the public service of the colony. Born in England, he was the son of John Gree ...

of Warwick May 1657 – May 1660 *

, of Newport May 1660 – May 1663

Attorneys general under the Royal Charter of 1663

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*John Sanford, of Portsmouth May 1663 – November 1664 *

, of Newport 1664–1670 *John Sanford, of Portsmouth 1670–1671 *Joseph Torrey, of Newport 1671–1672 *

, of Newport 1672–1674 *Peter Easton, of Newport 1674–1676 *Weston Clarke, of Newport 1676–1677 *Edward Richmond, of Newport 1677–1680 *Weston Clarke, of Newport 1680–1681 *Edmund Calverly, of Warwick 1681–1682 *John Pococke, of Newport 1684–1685 *Weston Clarke, of Newport 1685–1686 *John Pococke, of Newport 1684–1685 *Weston Clarke, of Newport 1685–1686 *John Williams, of Newport 1686–1689 *John Pococke, of Newport May 1690 – ???? *John Smith, of Warwick May 1696 – 1698 *John Pococke, of Newport 1698–1700 *John Rhodes, of Warwick 1700–1701 *John Pococke, of Newport 1701–1702 *Nathaniel Dyre, of Newport 1702–1704 * Joseph Sheffield, of Newport 1704–1706 *Simon Smith, of Warwick 1706–1712 * Richard Ward, of Newport 1712–1713 *John Hammett, of Newport 1713–1714 *Weston Clarke, of Newport 1714–1721 *Henry Bull, of Newport 1721–1722 *Daniel Updike, of North Kingstown 1722–1732 *James Honeyman, Jr., of Newport 1732–1740

King's attorneys

*James Honeyman, Jr., of Newport 1741–1743 *John Wanton, of Providence County 1741–1742 *Daniel Updike, of King's County 1741–1743 *John Andrew, of Providence County 1742–1743

Attorneys general

*Daniel Updike, of North Kingstown 1746–1747 * Augustus Johnston, of Newport 1758–1766 *Oliver Arnold, of Providence 1766–1771 *

Henry Marchant Henry Marchant (April 9, 1741 – August 30, 1796) was a Founding Father of the United States, an attorney general of Rhode Island, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Rhode Island, a signer of the Articles of Confederation, and the ...

, of Newport 1772–1776 (Independent) *William Channing, of Newport 1777–1786 (

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

) *Henry Goodwin, of Newport 1787–1788 (

) * David Howell, of Providence 1789 (PA) *Daniel Updike, of North Kingstown 1790 *William Channing, of Newport 1791–1793 (

) *

Ray Greene Ray Greene may refer to: * Ray Greene (politician) (1765–1849), United States senator from Rhode Island * Ray Greene (American football) (1938–2022), American football coach * Ray Greene (lacrosse) (1923–1987), American lacrosse player * Ra ...

, of Providence 1794–1796 (

Federalist 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 ...

) * James Burrill, Jr., of Providence 1797–1813 (

) * Samuel W. Bridgham, of Providence 1814–1816 (

) *Henry Bowen, of Providence 1817–1818 (

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

) *

Dutee J. Pearce Dutee Jerauld Pearce (April 3, 1789 – May 9, 1849) was an American politician and a United States Representative from Rhode Island. Early life Born on Prudence Island, Pearce graduated from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island in 1808, ...

, of Newport 1819–1824 (

) * Albert C. Greene, of East Greenwich 1825–1842 ( Whig)

Attorneys general under the Constitution of Rhode Island (1843-present)

References

External links

Rhode Island Attorney General
official website
Rhode Island Attorney General
articles at ''ABA Journal''

at

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* ttp://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/ Rhode Island General Lawsat Law.Justia.com
U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Rhode Island"
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Rhode Island Bar Association

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin profile
at

National Association of Attorneys General The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of state and territory attorneys general in the United States. NAAG is governed by member attorneys general, with a president and executive committee se ...

Press releases
at Rhode Island Attorney General {{Rhode Island year nav Rhode Island Attorneys General

Attorneys General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

1650 establishments in Rhode Island