Elisha Dyer III (1839-1906) - Find a Grave Memorial

Rhode Island Governor. He received recognition as the 45th governor of the State of Rhode Island, serving as a Republican from 1896 to 1900. Born the son of Rhode Island Governor Elisha Dyer, he received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Brown University and graduated from University of Giessen in Germany, as a chemist. His grandfather was a merchant named Elisha Dyer. During the American Civil War, he was Lieutenant Colonel in command of the Providence Train of Artillery of the Rhode Island Militia and also served as military aide-de-camp to Governor William Sprague. After the war, he was Adjutant General of the Rhode Island Militia with the rank of Brigadier General. Before being elected governor, he was elected as a member of the Rhode Island State Senate in 1877 and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1882. After his term as governor, he was again elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 1904 and was elected Mayor of Providence in 1905, dying while in office at age 67. He married Nancy Anthony Viall Dyer, whose family, like his, were the earliest settlers of Rhode Island.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith