William C. Cozzens

William Cole Cozzens ( born August 26, 1811 in Newport, Rhode Iceland, † December 17, 1876 ) was an American politician and in 1863 governor of the state of Rhode Iceland.

Career

William Cozzens was a successful businessman in Rhode Iceland, who later became president of the Rhode Iceland Union Bank. He was a member of the Democratic Party and worked for several years Mayor of Newport. He was both a Member of Parliament in the House of Rhode Iceland as well as member of the State Senate. In 1863 he was president of that body. Following the resignation of Governor William Sprague, who joined the U.S. Senate, and at the same time vacancy of the office of the Lieutenant Governor Cozzens had to end according to the state constitution Sprague's remaining term of office between 3 March and 26 May 1863. An independent candidate for this office then was unsuccessful. William Cozzens was married to Martha Stanton Gould, with whom he had five children.