William W. Hoppin was an American lawyer, legislator, and governor of Rhode Island.
Background
Hoppin was born in Providence in 1807. He was the brother of James Mason Hoppin. His English ancestor, Thomas Hoppin, settled in Massachusetts about 1635. Descendants removed to Rhode Island before the Revolution, when Benjamin Hoppin proved his patriotism by resigning a colonelcy under the King to become a captain in the Continental Army. Benjamin Hoppin's son, another Benjamin, was a prosperous man of affairs in Providence. He and his wife, Esther Phillips Warner, who came from Middletown, Connecticut, had six children of whom William was the third.
Education
William Hoppin received his college education at Yale, graduating in the class of 1828. He continued at Yale in the study of law, and in 1830 was admitted to the bar.
Career
Hoppin's political life began in 1838 when he became a common councilman in Providence; he served in that capacity four years. Following an interval of foreign travel, he was alderman from 1847 to 1852. The succeeding year, 1853, he was a state senator, and in 1854, 1855, and 1856 he was elected governor of Rhode Island. These were the years in which the moribund Whig party was virtually put out of existence by the Know-Nothing party. In Rhode Island, just previous to this time, the state had been stirred by the Dorr War, and by 1854 reaction had set in. The Dorrites, counting in their ranks both foreigners and Catholics, were supported by the Democratic party, but by reason of the birth or creed of many of their number, were the natural opponents of the Know-Nothing group whose slogan was "America for the Americans. " The Know-Nothings were also strongly in favor of prohibition legislation.
William Hoppin, nominally a Whig, was a native-born American and an ardent advocate of temperance; he was thus assured the new party's backing and won all three of his elections without serious opposition. His success was not entirely due to political conditions, however; his proven honesty and ability were contributory causes. He refused a fourth term as governor, and in 1857 declined nomination as United States senator. On being pressed to become a candidate for the same office in the following year he yielded, but lost by a narrow margin. He continued to serve the state in various capacities, allying himself with the new Republican party when it came into being.
In 1861 he was appointed state delegate to the Peace Congress in Washington. In 1866 he was again a state senator, and from 1867 to 1872 he held the judicial position of registrar in bankruptcy. In 1874-75 he was a member of the state House of Representatives for one year. The enumeration of his terms of office does not adequately suggest his activities; for years he was a member of the Providence School Board, and he was instrumental in having gas and water introduced into the city. At the presidential conventions which nominated Clay, Frémont, and Grant he represented Rhode Island.
Achievements
He is remembered as the 24th Governor of Rhode Island from 1854 to 1857.
His most outstanding characteristic was loyalty – to his state, whatever its demands upon him, to his church – the Beneficent Congregational Church of Providence – which received his unfailing support, and to his college, of which he proved himself a faithful and generous alumnus.
Membership
He was a hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati and served as its vice president. He was also a 3rd Class Companion (i. e. honorary member) of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Personality
Hoppin was small of stature, but he carried himself with dignity, and showed a never failing courtesy to all with whom he came in contact.
Connections
While a student in New Haven he had met Frances Street of that city, and on June 26, 1832, they were married.
