ARTHUR FENNER

February 10, 1745 (age 59)

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Little is known of the youth of the latter, but in December 1774 recommendation of the Continental Congress he was appointed one of the “Committee of Inspection. ” He was also for many years clerk of the court of common pleas in Providence. When the question of the ratification of the federal Constitution arose, the contest was especially severe and protracted in Rhode Island. Governor John Collins had favored calling a convention to decide the matter, and in consequence had become unpopular. Fenner was a member of the party opposed to adoption, and was appealed to by the citizens of Newport and Providence to head a compromise ticket upon which there should be a Federalist for deputy-governor and an equal number of Federalist and AntiFederalist assistants. He referred the matter to the freemen of the colony; the Anti-Federalists were successful, and on May 5, 1790, the Rhode Island General Assembly declared Arthur Fenner (Anti-Federalist) governor, and Samuel J. Potter (Federalist) deputy-governor. Final action on the Constitution was deferred until the last week in May, when on the twenty-ninth by a count of thirty-four to thirty-two, the Assembly voted for ratification. In the following June, Governor Fenner convened the General Assembly in special session and all officers took oath to support the Constitution newly adopted. In August President Washington made a visit to Newport and Providence to welcome Rhode Island into the Union. At the wharf in Providence a throng gathered to greet the President, and the Governor led the largest and most distinguished procession which the town had ever known. In Fenner was once more elected governor and was successively reelected until his death at Providence in 1805.

Back to Profile

Photos
Works

book

Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 (Classic Reprint)

(Excerpt from Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Art...)

Excerpt from Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 Therprincipal objeél: of the following publica tion is a defire to correét the l'trange mifrepre Ientations of the evidence given', and the proceed ings of the Court, at the trial here Rated, which have been tndui'triouﬂy circulated particularly in the country part of the State. Whatever may be our fentiments in regard to the merits of the Cafe, or themterells of the refpeé'twe parties, we have uniformly been anxious that this work lhould be eonduélzed with a firiét regard to candour and cor reétnefs. It is fubmitted to the public, under a perfect recolleétion', Of the multitude of Witneﬂ'es who are knowing to the truth, or the falfehood, of the fa&s here Rated and who will compare the te prefentations here made with the tranfaﬂions they law and heard at the trial. It is alio fubmitted, underafullconfcioufnefs, that party prejudices and inte'reﬂed inducements will probably feel: our occa lions for dlfapprobation and contradiétxon; Howe. Ver, as we believe that impartiality has been the confiant guide throughout the whole compilation, it {hall ﬂtil gover on our Part, in applying the my pet corrections, when fixch (hall be found necefiary. If in the hti'tory of this long and intricate trial, conduéted under peculiar circumltances of hurry and inconveniency, fome errors have unwanly efcaped the Compiler (or us) and (ball be pointed out, they {hall be candidly and cordially acknowledged and Corleéted'. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

ARTHUR FENNER

Edit Profile

fourth governor of Rhode Island

Background

Arthur Fenner was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His great-grandfather, Captan Arthur Fenner, was born in England in 1622, and emigrated early in life to Providence. His home, which because of its huge chimney was called “the Castle, ” remained in existence for about one hundred and fifty years. Capt. Fenner’s first wife was Mehitable, daughter of Richard Waterman, by whom he had six children. Of these, his son Thomas was the father of Arthur, who served in the British-American army as ensign in one of the companies which took part in the invasion of Canada in 1759, married Mary Olney, and became the father of Arthur Fenner, the governor.

Career

Little is known of the youth of the latter, but in December 1774 recommendation of the Continental Congress he was appointed one of the “Committee of Inspection. ”

He was also for many years clerk of the court of common pleas in Providence. When the question of the ratification of the federal Constitution arose, the contest was especially severe and protracted in Rhode Island.

Governor John Collins had favored calling a convention to decide the matter, and in consequence had become unpopular. Fenner was a member of the party opposed to adoption, and was appealed to by the citizens of Newport and Providence to head a compromise ticket upon which there should be a Federalist for deputy-governor and an equal number of Federalist and AntiFederalist assistants. He referred the matter to the freemen of the colony; the Anti-Federalists were successful, and on May 5, 1790, the Rhode Island General Assembly declared Arthur Fenner (Anti-Federalist) governor, and Samuel J. Potter (Federalist) deputy-governor.

Final action on the Constitution was deferred until the last week in May, when on the twenty-ninth by a count of thirty-four to thirty-two, the Assembly voted for ratification. In the following June, Governor Fenner convened the General Assembly in special session and all officers took oath to support the Constitution newly adopted.

In August President Washington made a visit to Newport and Providence to welcome Rhode Island into the Union.

At the wharf in Providence a throng gathered to greet the President, and the Governor led the largest and most distinguished procession which the town had ever known. In Fenner was once more elected governor and was successively reelected until his death at Providence in 1805.

Achievements

He has the seventh longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U. S. history at 5, 642 days.

Works

Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 (Classic Reprint) Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 (Classic Reprint)

book
- Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 (Classic Reprint)
  (Excerpt from Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Art...)

Membership

Fenner was a member of the party opposed to adoption.

Connections

His wife was Amey, daughter of Gideon Comstock.

Father:: Thomas Fenner
Mother:: Mehitable Waterman
Great-grandfather:: Arthur Fenner
Wife:: Amey Comstock

Main Photo

ARTHUR FENNER

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Other photo of ARTHUR FENNER

Other photo of ARTHUR FENNER

Connections

Connections

book

Report of the Case John Dorrance Against Arthur Fenner: Tried at the December Term, of the Court of Common Pleas, in the County of Providence, A. D. 1801 (Classic Reprint)

ARTHUR FENNER

Background

Career

Achievements

Works

book

Membership

Connections

Born

Died

Nationality

Religion

Political Party