Richard Ward was a colonial governor of Rhode Island.
Background
Richard Ward was born in Newport, a few months before the death of his father, Thomas Ward, who had settled in Newport in 1671. Richard's mother was his father's second wife, Amy Smith. The boy grew up in his native town, which was already a center for shipping engaged in the West India trade.
Career
In 1714 he was elected a member of the Rhode Island Assembly, and thereafter served in various public capacities for many years. On May 7, 1740, he was elected deputy governor, and a few months later became governor on the death of Gov. John Wanton. He continued in office three years, but in 1742 declined to run for a third term. His service as governor came during a period of general unrest in Rhode Island. Not only was the colony feeling the effects of the War of the Austrian Succession, but it was agitated over three local issues: the paper money question, a controversy with Massachusetts over the common boundary, and, beginning in 1742, a dispute with the mother country over the right of appointment of a judge of the court of admiralty, a question involving the interpretation of the colonial charter. Ward retired from office before the war had fairly begun and before either of the other questions was settled, yet he had much to do with all of them. A council of war, of which he was a member, was created in January 1741; soldiers were recruited in response to his proclamation; Fort George was enlarged, and the colony sloop, Tartar, was made ready to go to sea. With regard to the paper-money question, Ward as a merchant belonged to the conservative group, but he was unable to prevent the establishment of another bank of issue. In regard to the Massachusetts boundary he stoutly supported the Rhode Island claims, and as stoutly protested to England in behalf of the charter rights. His refusal to remain in office was due, possibly, to interest in the war, for he was present at the siege of Louisburg in 1745. During the rest of his life he lived quietly, and died in 1763, probably little suspecting that separation of the colonies from England would soon occur. His children carried on their father's traditions of public service.
Achievements
Connections
On November 2, 1709, he married Mary Tillinghast, and fourteen children were born to them.