Samuel Ward (American statesman)

Samuel Ward ( born May 25, 1725 in Newport, Rhode Iceland, † March 26, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was a politician in colonial North America. He was from 1762 to 1763 and 31 from 1765 to 1767 the 33rd Governor of the Colony of Rhode Iceland and Providence Plantations.

Family

Ward was born the son of the politician Richard Ward and his wife, Mary Tillinghast in Newport, Rhode Iceland. His paternal great-grandfather, John Ward, came from Gloucester. This served in the army of Oliver Cromwell and emigrated in 1673, after the Stuart Restoration, to North America. Ward was the maternal great- great-grandson of Roger Williams, who is considered the founder of Rhode Iceland and the first Baptist church in the Americas. Ward grew up in a liberal family. He attended primary school in Newport and received from his brother home schooling. At a young age he married Anne Ray. From their father, the couple received a piece of land in Westerly, where it settled and a farm operation. From this marriage eleven children were born, including Samuel Ward. Julia Ward Howe was the great-granddaughter Wards.

Political action

His political commitment took Ward on 1756. In that year he was elected alderman in Westerly. He held this office for three years. In the battle for the post of governor of the colony, he was deeply divided with Stephen Hopkins. Between 1758 and 1768 the governorship changed hands several times between the two men back and forth. The contrasting positions of the two were also seen in the dispute over whether the colony future only coins or bills should be approved. While the former advocated Ward, Hopkins presented on the latter side. The conflict of these two men culminated in Hopkins against Ward to a lawsuit in which he, for defamation, a compensation of 40,000 British pounds demanded. His complaint was but ultimately rejected. 1761 Ward was appointed Chairman of the Rhode Iceland Supreme Court, gave the post but a year later again, when he won the election for governor of the colony against Stephen Hopkins in the third attempt. The Office of the Governor Ward had initially served only one term, before he was again replaced in 1763 by Hopkins. In this first tenure, Ward sat vehemently for the founding of Rhode Iceland College, the forerunner of today's Brown University, a. When the college was finally opened in 1765, Ward was one of the curators.

Stamp Act of 1765

1763 Ward lost the election for governor against Hopkins, but the election was won again in 1765 for themselves. Two months before his second election the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. Under this law, all official documents that are written in the British colonies, should be printed on special paper that should buy the colonies from Great Britain at a fixed price. Moreover, the new duties on sugar and coffee were collected. In response to this legislation Samuel Adams organized a meeting of delegates from all the colonies in New York City. In August 1765, the Parliament of Rhode Iceland adopted several resolutions that were against the implementation of the Stamp Act. These perform refused the purpose competent Attorney General. In September of the same year, Parliament elected the delegates to the meeting in New York. On the day before the entry into force of the law all governors had to take an oath, the law actually implement. Ward was the only governor of the North American colonies, who refused to take the oath, although a significant financial penalty was threatened. Ultimately, the law was repealed.

Member of the Continental Congress

1767 Ward lost the election for governor again against Hopkins and initially retired to retire to his country seat in Westerly back. However, in 1774, he returned to politics. In May of the same year the holding of a Continental Congress was decided in Providence. The Parliament of Rhode Iceland particular at its meeting in June 1774 Ward and Hopkins as delegates to the First Continental Congress. There he was appointed Chairman of the Board and so took a considerable influence on the content of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

Death and legacy

Ward died three months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence from the effects of smallpox infection, which he allegedly suffered during a session of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and was initially buried in Philadelphia. In 1860 his remains were then transferred to Newport and was buried beside his father at the cemetery Common Burying Ground and Iceland Cemetery. In 1937 the High School of Westerly was named after Ward. Similarly, the running before this school street was renamed in Ward Avenue. After the transformation of the campus of the school was renamed Westerly High School. One of the two buildings is equally still named after Ward as well as one of the function rooms. In addition, has a plaque in the entrance of the main building down to Ward.