Rhode Island Governor, US Senator. Born, on a Saturday, to wealthy cotton mill owner William Anthony and his wife Mary Kennicut Greene, he was the 4th of 7 children. At the age of 18 he graduated from Brown University at the age of 18. He married Sarah Aborn Rhodes on October 16, 1837. In 1838 his cousin, Providence Journal publisher, George Jackson hired him to be his editor. Within 2 years he would buy a minority stake in the paper. Later on he would become a majority owner. He would control the paper for over 40 years till his death, using it to expound on his staunch anti-catholic and anti-Irish prejudices. In 1849 he was elected as a Whig to the Governorship of Rhode Island. He chose not to run for a 3rd term in 1851. His wife died in 1854. In 1859 the Rhode Island General Assembly elected him to the US Senate. He was a strong supporter of President Lincoln and although, he was a supporter of President Johnson he cast the first vote for impeachment. He served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Printing and was instrumental in starting the Government Printing Office. He was elected the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 1869 and for a total of 17 times. In 1875 he became the conference chairman, a job that functioned much like today's Majority Leader. He left to his alma mater the "Harris collection of American Poetry", a collection that encompassed some 6000 volumes. Being the longest serving Senator at the time of his death he was known as the "Father of the Senate". He died on a Tuesday at the age of 69.
Rhode Island Governor, US Senator. Born, on a Saturday, to wealthy cotton mill owner William Anthony and his wife Mary Kennicut Greene, he was the 4th of 7 children. At the age of 18 he graduated from Brown University at the age of 18. He married Sarah Aborn Rhodes on October 16, 1837. In 1838 his cousin, Providence Journal publisher, George Jackson hired him to be his editor. Within 2 years he would buy a minority stake in the paper. Later on he would become a majority owner. He would control the paper for over 40 years till his death, using it to expound on his staunch anti-catholic and anti-Irish prejudices. In 1849 he was elected as a Whig to the Governorship of Rhode Island. He chose not to run for a 3rd term in 1851. His wife died in 1854. In 1859 the Rhode Island General Assembly elected him to the US Senate. He was a strong supporter of President Lincoln and although, he was a supporter of President Johnson he cast the first vote for impeachment. He served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Printing and was instrumental in starting the Government Printing Office. He was elected the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in 1869 and for a total of 17 times. In 1875 he became the conference chairman, a job that functioned much like today's Majority Leader. He left to his alma mater the "Harris collection of American Poetry", a collection that encompassed some 6000 volumes. Being the longest serving Senator at the time of his death he was known as the "Father of the Senate". He died on a Tuesday at the age of 69.
Bio by: Matthew Fatale
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