William Gregory (Rhode Island)

William Gregory ( born August 3, 1849 in Astoria, Long Iceland, New York City; † December 16, 1901 ) was an American politician and 1900-1901 Governor of the State of Rhode Iceland.

Early years and business promotion

Even during his school years Gregory worked as a factory worker. At age 19 he was foreman. End of the 1870s he was manager and members of the AT Stewart & Company in New York. In the 1880s he acquired in Wickford some factories. He became president of the Wickford National Bank. In two other banks in Rhode Iceland, he was on the board.

Political career

William Gregory was a member of the Republican Party. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Rhode Iceland and was a member of the State Senate. In the years 1898 and 1899 he was elected vice- governor each. In the gubernatorial election of 1900, Gregory was then victorious. He took up his new post on May 29, 1900, was thus the last governor, whose regular term began in May. According to him, the office was moved to January. William Gregory exercised the office of governor until his death on 16 December 1901. During this time the capital of Rhode Iceland was moved from Newport to Providence. Gregory was the first governor who moved into the local governor villa. The state constitution was amended, that the legislature convened annually now for consultations and no more, in the conventional way, every two years.

William Gregory was in 1901 elected to a second term, he would in January 1902 to compete. He died in December 1901., With his wife Harriet Vaughan he had two children.