(Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)
Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.
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William was born on September 12, 1830 in Cranston, Rhode Island, United States, the son of Amasa and Fanny (Morgan) Sprague, the grandson of William Sprague, 1773-1836, and the descendant of William Sprague who emigrated from England and died at Hingham, Massachussets, in 1675. His father greatly increased the mill holdings and capital he had inherited and in 1843 was murdered, probably because he had influenced the town council to refuse a license to sell liquor near his factory.
The boy received an inadequate education in schools in East Greenwich and Scituate, Rhode Island, and at Irving Institute, Tarrytown, New York.
Sprague was fifteen when he went to work in the factory store. The next year he became a book-keeper in the Sprague counting-house. When he was twenty-six, at the death of his uncle, he and his brother assumed control of the Sprague properties. At this time he was an enthusiastic member of the Providence Marine Artillery, of which he later became colonel.
After a vigorous contest, in which he was accused of astounding bribery, he won by a large majority. In 1861 he was reelected. The outbreak of the Civil War served to heighten his popularity and to increase fabulously his wealth from the family cotton mills. Owing to his energy and financial support, a Rhode Island regiment was one of the first to reach Washington after the call for troops. He himself served as an aide under General Burnside and in the battle of Bull Run proved his gallantry under fire. Later he was offered the rank of brigadier-general but declined. He took his federal senator seat on March 4, 1863, and served until March 3, 1875.
In December 1870 he introduced a resolution providing for an investigation of charges against him of illicit trading for cotton in Texas during the war. The committee appointed held the charges were not sustained by the evidence at their disposal and was discharged on the ground that the session was too short for going into the matter further. About the same time his financial standing began to be questioned.
With the panic of 1873, acrimonious complaints and litigation culminated in a failure involving some $20, 000, 000 that wiped out all but a fraction of the Sprague wealth.
In 1883 he was again candidate for governor, but he was unsuccessful. He retired to "Canonchet, " his large estate at Narragansett Pier, which remained a relic of his former splendor. After this house was burned to the ground, he went to live in Paris, his mind and health much shattered. He died there, and his body was brought back to his native state for burial.
(Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)
He was a handsome young man, and his great wealth soon made him a prominent figure in the state.
On November 12, 1863, Sprague was married to Kate Chase (see Sprague, Kate Chase), the very beautiful and much courted daughter of the secretary of war, Salmon P. Chase. They had four children. Domestic troubles developed also, and in 1882 he was divorced with a good deal of scandal for both sides.
On March 8, 1883, Sprague married Dora Inez (Weed) Calvert.
