Governor of Rhode Island. Elisha Dyer served as a Republican governor of Rhode Island from 1857 to 1859. His term was served during the struggles and debates at the dawn of the American Civil War. Born the son of Elisha Dyer and Frances Dunn Jones, he was a Brown University graduate and became a partner in his father's thriving mercantile and cotton mill business. In 1840, he was appointed Adjutant General of Rhode Island, serving for five years, and served on the Providence School Committee for over a decade. After being elected to governor of Rhode Island, he served from May 26, 1857, to May 31, 1859. During the American Civil War, he served as Captain of Co. B of the 10th Ward Rhode Island Infantry Militia, Emergency State Guard. The Rhode Island 10th was called for duty by Governor Sprague and sent to Washington on May 23, 1862, to defend the United States Capitol against the threat of Stonewall Jackson. Captain Dyer and the 10th, having completed their mission, returned to Rhode Island and were mustered out September 1, 1862. After the war, he became President and Director of the Exchange Bank, Second Vice President of the Rhode Island Art Association, and was appointed Rhode Island's commissioner to the International Exhibition at London in 1871. He was a member of the U.S. Agricultural Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society. He was married October 8, 1833, to Anna Jones Hoppin, and the couple had seven children, including Governor Elisha Dyer III, the 47th Governor of Rhode Island.
Governor of Rhode Island. Elisha Dyer served as a Republican governor of Rhode Island from 1857 to 1859. His term was served during the struggles and debates at the dawn of the American Civil War. Born the son of Elisha Dyer and Frances Dunn Jones, he was a Brown University graduate and became a partner in his father's thriving mercantile and cotton mill business. In 1840, he was appointed Adjutant General of Rhode Island, serving for five years, and served on the Providence School Committee for over a decade. After being elected to governor of Rhode Island, he served from May 26, 1857, to May 31, 1859. During the American Civil War, he served as Captain of Co. B of the 10th Ward Rhode Island Infantry Militia, Emergency State Guard. The Rhode Island 10th was called for duty by Governor Sprague and sent to Washington on May 23, 1862, to defend the United States Capitol against the threat of Stonewall Jackson. Captain Dyer and the 10th, having completed their mission, returned to Rhode Island and were mustered out September 1, 1862. After the war, he became President and Director of the Exchange Bank, Second Vice President of the Rhode Island Art Association, and was appointed Rhode Island's commissioner to the International Exhibition at London in 1871. He was a member of the U.S. Agricultural Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society. He was married October 8, 1833, to Anna Jones Hoppin, and the couple had seven children, including Governor Elisha Dyer III, the 47th Governor of Rhode Island.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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