JAMES FENNER

Background

James Fenner, son of Governor Arthur Fenner and Amey Comstock, was born in Providence.

Education

He entered Rhode Island College, now Brown University, in 1785, graduating four years later at the head of his class.

Career

He began his political career as a member from Providence in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

In 1804 he superseded Christopher Ellery as United States senator from Rhode Island, and served until 1807, when he resigned.

In that year he was elected governor, which office he held until 1821 and again from 1824 to 1831.

During the enlargement of the suffrage, known as the Dorr Rebellion, Fenner took sides with the so-called Law and Order party, which opposed Dorr.

Following the defeat, by a narrow margin, of the first government or “Freemen’s” constitution, a convention was held in 1842 which framed and submitted to the people of Rhode Island a constitution designed to replace the royal charter still in force.

It was said of him, in view of his responsiveness to popular feeling, that “few public men in Rhode Island history have been more successful in trimming their sails to catch an approaching breeze. ”

In 1827, at the time of a strong temperance movement in Rhode Island, the governor on election day, instead of indulging in the usual convivial practise, donated one hundred dollars to the Newport public-school fund.

Later, when the Dorr party appealed for intervention by the federal government he called an extra session of the General Assembly to take action upon what he termed “an unwarrantable interference of the national government with the internal affairs of an individual state. ”

After 1845 Fenner retired to his “What Cheer” estate, and on his death in 1846 was accorded a public funeral.

Achievements

• The constitution was overwhelmingly approved, and under the new government Fenner became the first governor, holding office from 1843 to 1845. Fenner was a good politician.

Membership

He was a member in the Rhode Island General Assembly from Providence.

Connections

His wife was Sarah, daughter of Sylvanus and Freelove (Whipple) Jenckcs of Providence, whom he married in November 1792.

Father:

Arthur Fenner

Mother:

Amey Comstock

Wife:

Sarah Jenckcs