William Jones was an American Revolutionary soldier and Federalist governor of Rhode Island during the War of 1812. He was the only Federalist ever to serve as Governor of Rhode Island.
Background
William was born on October 8, 1753 at Newport, Rhode Island, United States. His grandfather, Thomas Jones, came from Wales, and his father, William, was first lieutenant of the privateer Duke of Marlborough in the French and Indian War. William, senior, died in 1759, leaving a widow, Elizabeth (Pearce) Jones, and five children, of whom his namesake was the fourth.
Education
Not much is known of the son's early life; but he must have had a fair education.
Career
Jones received a lieutenant's commission from the General Assembly in January 1776, and was made a captain about the time his regiment joined the main army in September. His brigade saw service in the battle of White Plains, the retreat to New Jersey, and the battle of Princeton.
Jones left the army in February 1777. Just a year later he became captain of marines on the Providence, a frigate of twenty-eight guns built in Rhode Island, which sailed on April 30, 1778, to carry the first dispatches to the commissioners in Paris after the conclusion of the treaty with France. On arrival near Nantes, Jones was chosen the messenger to Paris, and was probably the first officer to wear the American uniform there. His journal tells of seeing the sights and of dining with Adams, Lee, and Franklin. In 1779 the Providence made a successful cruise for prizes off Newfoundland, and later went to Charleston, South Carolina, where her crew and guns were landed to strengthen the batteries and were surrendered May 12, 1780.
Jones returned to Rhode Island on parole and went into business in Providence. The townsmen made him a representative in the General Assembly, 1807-11; in 1808 he presented a petition from Providence against the Embargo, speaking forcibly of its dire effects upon the industrial and shipping interests of the town; in 1809 he became speaker of the Assembly, and in 1811 governor of Rhode Island on the Federalist ticket. He was reelected annually until 1817 by the opponents of the national government, while its supporters charged him with loving trade better than his country, and called him such names as "a haberdasher of British hardware".
The Governor's messages called the war unjust, asserted final authority in the use of the state militia, complained of defenseless coasts, and early in 1814 practically threatened secession. The making of peace meant ultimate loss of office, but his last campaign was a warm one, in which a prudent and economical administration was set against the "mourning and misery" brought on by twelve years of "misconduct" on the part of the government at Washington.
He died in 1822.
Achievements
Membership
He was a member of the Cincinnati, a president of the Peace Society and of the Rhode Island Bible Society, and a trustee of Brown University.
Personality
Jones was a man of integrity and good sense, and his faithful performance of religious and other duties (he was a justice of the peace) won him the esteem of his townsmen.
Connections
Jones was married on February 28, 1787, to Anne Dunn of Providence, who, with an only daughter, survived him.