List of speakers of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
The speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives is the highest official in the Rhode Island House of Representatives .
History
From 1663 until 1842, Rhode Island 's governing state constitution was its original colonial charter granted by King Charles II of England , a political anomaly considering that while most states during the War of Independence and afterwards wrote scores of new constitutions with their newly found independence in mind, Rhode Island instead continued with a document stamped by an English king. By the 1840s, Rhode Island was the only state whose official legal document was passed by a foreign monarch and the document essentially restricted voting rights to a very small population of elite, rural, landowning native-born white males.[1]
In September 1842, a Constitutional Convention was held at the Colony House in Newport to confront the issue of expanding suffrage.[1] When the constitution was put to a public vote in November 1842, voters rejected that voting rights should be restricted to whites only by a three to one margin, thus making Rhode Island the first state to grant suffrage to African-Americans.[1] The new constitution was ratified and the constitution became effective in May 1843.[2]
Selection
The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. As well as presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation.[3]
List of speakers
Speaker
Took office
Left office
Party
Notes
Jonathan Holmes
Oct. 1696
Oct. 1698
Joseph Jenckes Jr.
Oct. 1698
Feb. 1699
Founder of Pawtucket, Rhode Island ; his son, Joseph , became the Colony's governor
Benjamin Newberry
Feb. 1699
Apr. 1700
Jonathan Holmes
Apr. 1700
May 1703
Benjamin Barton
Oct. 1703
May 1704
John Rogers
May 1704
Oct. 1704
John Dexter
Oct. 1704
May 1705
William Wanton
May 1705
May 1706
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
Benjamin Arnold
May 1706
Feb. 1707
John Wanton
Feb. 1707
May 1707
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1734 to 1740; brother to William Wanton
Joseph Jenckes
May 6, 1707
May 28, 1707
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1732
James Greene
May 1707
Oct. 1707
Richard Arnold
Oct. 1707
May 1708
Joseph Jenckes
May 1708
Oct. 1708
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1732
William Wanton
Oct. 1708
May 1709
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
Simon Smith
May 1709
Oct. 1709
Abraham Anthony
Oct. 1709
May 1710
John Wanton
May 1710
Oct. 1710
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1734 to 1740; brother to William Wanton
William Wanton
Oct. 1710
Nov. 1711
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
James Green
Nov. 1711
Feb. 1712
John Spencer
Feb. 1712
May 1712
Ebenezer Slocum
May 1712
May 1713
John Wanton
May 1713
Oct. 1713
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1734 to 1740; brother to William Wanton
Thomas Frye
Oct. 1713
Oct. 1714
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
Randall Holden Jr.
Oct. 1714
May 1715
Son of Randall Holden , co-founder of Portsmouth and Warwick
William Wanton
May 1715
Oct. 1715
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
William Hopkins
Oct. 1715
May 1716
Nephew of Benedict Arnold , 1st Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island
John Cranston Jr.
May 1716
Oct. 1716
William Wanton
Oct. 1716
Oct. 1717
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
Thomas Frye
Oct. 1717
May 1718
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
William Wanton
May 1718
Oct. 1718
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
Nathaniel Sheffield
Oct. 1718
May 1719
William Wanton
May 1719
May 1722
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
Thomas Frye
May 1722
Oct. 1722
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
William Coddington III
Oct. 1722
Feb. 1723
Nephew of William Coddington Jr. and grandson of William Coddington , both Governors of the Colony of Rhode Island
William Wanton
Feb. 1723
May 1724
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1732 to 1733; brother to John Wanton
William Coddington III
May 5, 1724
May 6, 1724
Nephew of William Coddington Jr. and grandson of William Coddington , both Governors of the Colony of Rhode Island
Thomas Frye
May 1724
Oct. 1724
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
William Coddington III
Oct. 1724
Oct. 1725
Nephew of William Coddington Jr. and grandson of William Coddington , both Governors of the Colony of Rhode Island
Thomas Frye
Oct. 1725
May 1726
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
William Coddington III
May 1726
Oct. 1726
Nephew of William Coddington Jr. and grandson of William Coddington , both Governors of the Colony of Rhode Island
Jeremiah Gould
Oct. 1726
Aug. 1727
Thomas Frye
Aug. 1727
Oct. 1727
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
Job Greene
Oct. 1727
Apr. 1728
Henry Bull
Apr. 1728
May 1729
Also served as Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1721 to 1722; was a great-grandson of Governor Henry Bull
Samuel Clarke
May 1729
Oct. 1729
Thomas Frye
Oct. 1729
May 1730
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1729
Samuel Clarke
May 1730
Oct. 1732
George Hazard
Oct. 1732
May 1733
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1734 to 1738; father of Carder Hazard and cousin of Robert Hazard
Jeremiah Gould
May 1733
Jun. 1733
George Hazard
Jun. 1733
Jul. 1733
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1734 to 1738; father of Carder Hazard and cousin of Robert Hazard
Jeremiah Gould
Jul. 1733
Oct. 1733
Samuel Clarke
Oct. 1733
May 1734
Henry Bull
Apr. 30, 1734
May 5, 1734
Also served as Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1721 to 1722; was a great-grandson of Governor Henry Bull
William Greene
May 1734
Oct. 1734
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island in 1743, serving four separate terms for a total of 11 years; father of William Greene
Samuel Clarke
Oct. 1734
Oct. 1735
William Robinson
Oct. 1735
May 1736
Also served as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1745 to 1746 and 1747 to 1748
Francis Willett
May 1736
Oct. 1736
Samuel Clarke
Oct. 1736
May 1737
Francis Willett
May 1737
Oct. 1737
Daniel Abbott
Oct. 1737
May 1738
Also served as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1738 to 1740
Thomas Spenser
May 1738
Oct. 1738
Stephen Hopkins
Oct. 1738
May 1739
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
Francis Willett
May 1739
Jul. 1739
William Greene
Jul. 1739
Oct. 1739
Also served as Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island in 1743, serving four separate terms for a total of 11 years; father of William Greene
Stephen Hopkins
Oct. 1739
May 1740
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
Samuel Clarke
May 1740
May 1741
Stephen Hopkins
May 1741
Jun. 1741
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
Joseph Whipple
Jun. 1741
Aug. 1741
Also served as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1743 to 1745 and 1746 to 1747; son of Col. Joseph Whipple
Stephen Hopkins
Aug. 1741
Oct. 1741
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
William Robinson
Oct. 1741
Oct. 1742
Also served as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1745 to 1746 and 1747 to 1748
Stephen Hopkins
Oct. 1742
May 1743
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
John Potter
May 1743
Oct. 1743
Joseph Stafford
Oct. 1743
May 1744
Stephen Hopkins
May 1744
Nov. 1744
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
Peter Bours
Nov. 1744
Oct. 1746
Jeremiah Niles
Oct. 1746
Feb. 1747
Samuel Wickham
Feb. 1747
Oct. 1747
Daniel Jencks
Oct. 1747
Oct. 1748
Thomas Cranston
Oct. 1748
May 1749
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1762 to 1764
Stephen Hopkins
May 1749
Aug. 1749
Founding Father of the United States , also served as Governor and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court , and a signer of the Continental Association and Declaration of Independence [4]
Joshua Babcock
Aug. 1749
May 1750
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1763 and from 1749 to 1751
Thomas Cranston
May 1750
May 1757
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1762 to 1764
Benjamin Wickham
May 1757
Oct. 1757
Peter Bours
Oct. 1757
May 1759
Joshua Babcock
May 1759
Oct. 1759
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1763 and from 1749 to 1751
Job Randal
Oct. 1759
May 1760
Thomas Cranston
May 1760
May 1762
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1762 to 1764
Daniel Aryault Jr.
May 1762
Oct. 1762
Philip Greene
Oct. 1762
May 1763
John Dexter
May 1763
May 1764
Daniel Aryault
May 1764
Oct. 1764
William Bradford
Oct. 1764
Oct. 1765
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Richard Bailey
Oct. 1765
May 1766
William Bradford
May 1766
May 1767
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
John Cole
May 1767
Feb. 1768
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1764 to 1765
Metcalf Bowler
Feb. 1768
Nov. 1776
Also served as justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1768 to 1769, 1770 to 1776, and as Chief Justice from 1776 to 1777
Revolutionary War to Present[3] [5]
Speaker
Took office
Left office
Party
Notes
William Greene
Nov. 1776
May 1778
Also served as 2nd Governor of Rhode Island 1778 to 1786 and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1777 to 1778; son of William Greene
Joshua Babcock
May 1778
Sep. 1778
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1763 and from 1749 to 1751
Stephen Potter
Sep. 1778
May 1779
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1764 to 1765, 1767 to 1768, and 1779 to 1780
Othniel Gorton
May 1779
May 1780
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1788 to 1791
William Bradford
May 1780
Jun. 1780
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Welcome Arnold
Jun. 1780
Jul. 1780
William Bradford
Jul. 1780
Oct. 1786
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Othniel Gorton
Oct. 1786
Oct. 1788
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1788 to 1791
Joseph Stanton Jr.
Oct. 1788
Oct. 1789
Anti-Administration
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1790 to 1793 and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1801 to 1807
William Bradford
Oct. 1789
May 1790
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Joseph Stanton Jr.
May 1790
Oct. 1790
Anti-Administration
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1790 to 1793 and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1801 to 1807
Welcome Arnold
Oct. 1790
May 1791
William Bradford
May 1791
May 1793
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Welcome Arnold
May 1793
May 1795
Joseph Stanton Jr.
May 1795
Oct. 1795
Anti-Administration
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1790 to 1793 and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1801 to 1807
Elisha Reynolds Potter
Oct. 1795
Feb. 1797
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1796 to 1797 and 1809 to 1815; father of U.S. Representative Elisha R. Potter
Joseph Stanton Jr.
Feb. 1797
May 1797
Anti-Administration
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1790 to 1793 and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1801 to 1807
George Champlin
May 1797
Oct. 1798
William Bradford
Oct. 1798
May 1802
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1793 to 1797 and Deputy Governor of Rhode Island from 1775 to 1778
Elisha Reynolds Potter
May 1802
Oct. 1802
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1796 to 1797 and 1809 to 1815; father of U.S. Representative Elisha R. Potter
Constant Taber
Oct. 1802
Oct. 1805
Isaac Wilbour
Oct. 1805
May 1806
Democratic-Republican
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1806 to 1807, U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1807 to 1809, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1819 to 1827
Elisha Reynolds Potter
May 1806
Feb. 1809
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1796 to 1797 and 1809 to 1815; father of U.S. Representative Elisha R. Potter
William Jones
May 1809
May 1810
Federalist
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1811 to 1817
Nathaniel Hazard
May 1810
Oct. 1810
Democratic-Republican
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1819 to 1820
William Jones
Oct. 1810
May 1811
Federalist
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1811 to 1817
William Hunter
May 1811
Feb. 1812
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1811 to 1821, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires/Minister to Brazil from 1835 to 1843
James B. Mason
Feb. 1812
May 1814
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1815 to 1819
James Burrill Jr.
May 1814
Oct. 1816
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1817 to 1820, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1816 to 1817, Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1797 to 1814
Benjamin Hazard
Oct. 1816
May 1818
Nathaniel Hazard
May 1818
May 1819
Democratic-Republican
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1819 to 1820
James DeWolf
May 1819
May 1821
Federalist
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1821 to 1825
Elisha Mathewson
May 1821
Oct. 1821
Democratic-Republican
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1807 to 1811
Albert C. Greene
Oct. 1821
May 1822
Whig
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1845 to 1851 and Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1825 to 1843
Elisha Mathewson
May 1822
Oct. 1822
Democratic-Republican
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1807 to 1811
Albert C. Greene
Oct. 1822
May 1825
Whig
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1845 to 1851 and Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1825 to 1843
Nathaniel Bullock
May 1825
May 1826
Democratic-Republican
Also served as Lt. Gov. of Rhode Island from 1842 to 1843
Samuel W. Bridgham
May 1826
Oct. 1826
Whig
Also served as Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1814 to 1817 and Mayor of Providence from 1832 to 1840
Nathan B. Sprague
Oct. 1826
Oct. 1827
Job Durfee
Oct. 1827
May 1829
Democratic-Republican
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1821 to 1825 and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1835 to 1847; father of Thomas Durfee
Joseph L. Tillinghast
May 1829
Oct. 1832
Whig
Also served as U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1837 to 1843
William Sprague III
Oct. 1832
May 1835
Whig
Also served as U.S. Senator from 1842 to 1844 and U.S. Representative from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1835 to 1837 and Governor of Rhode Island from 1838 to 1839
Henry Y. Cranston
May 1835
Oct. 1835
Law and Order , Whig
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district from 1843 to 1847
Christopher Allen
Oct. 1835
Oct. 1836
Samuel Y. Atwell
Oct. 1836
Oct. 1837
George Curtis
Oct. 1837
May 1839
Also served as President of the Continental Bank of New York
Henry Y. Cranston
May 1839
May 1841
Law and Order, Whig
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district from 1843 to 1847
Charles Jackson
May 1841
May 1842
Whig
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1845 to 1846
Richard K. Randolph
May 1842
Oct. 1842
Alfred Bosworth
Oct. 1842
May 1844
Whig
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1854 to 1862
Samuel Ames
May 1844
May 1845
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1856 to 1865
George Gordon King
May 1845
May 1846
Whig
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district from 1849 to 1853
Robert B. Cranston
May 1846
May 1847
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district from 1847 to 1849 and from Rhode Island's at-large district from 1837 to 1843
William S. Patten
May 1847
May 1848
Sylvester G. Shearman
May 1848
May 1849
James C. Hidden
May 1849
May 1851
Alfred Bosworth
May 1851
May 1853
Whig
Also served as Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1854 to 1862
Thomas Steere
May 1853
Jan. 1854
Benjamin F. Thurston
Jan. 1854
May 1854
Henry Y. Cranston
May 1854
May 1855
Law and Order, Whig
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district from 1843 to 1847
Benjamin Fessenden
May 1855
May 1856
Benjamin F. Thurston
May 1856
May 1857
Sullivan Ballou
May 1857
May 1858
Republican
Also served as a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
Charles C. Van Zandt
May 1858
May 1859
Republican
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1877 to 1880
Wingate Hayes
May 1859
May 1860
Also served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from 1861 to 1871
Caesar A. Updike
May 1860
May 1862
Francis W. Miner
May 1862
May 1863
Thomas Durfee
May 1863
May 1864
Also served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1875 to 1891; son of Job Durfee
Benjamin F. Thurston
May 1864
Jan. 1865
Alexander Farnum
Jan. 1865
May 1865
George L. Clarke
May 1865
May 1866
Republican
Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island from 1869 to 1870
Charles C. Van Zandt
May 1866
May 1869
Republican
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1877 to 1880
Benjamin T. Eames
May 1869
May 1870
Republican
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district
Amos Barstow
May 1870
May 1871
Whig
Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island from 1852 to 1853
Charles C. Van Zandt
May 1871
May 1873
Republican
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1877 to 1880
Edwin Metcalf
1873
1874
Also served as Attorney General of Rhode Island
Edward L. Freeman
1874
1876
Nelson W. Aldrich
1876
1877
Republican
Also served as a U.S. Senator and in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district
Dexter B. Potter
1877
1879
President of the Providence Telephone Co.
Henry J. Spooner
1879
1881
Republican
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 1st district
John P. Sanborn
1881
1882
Francello G. Jillson
1883
1885
Ellery H. Wilson
1885
1887
Charles E. Gorman
1887
1888
George H. Utter
1888
1889
Republican
Also served as Governor of Rhode Island , Lt. Gov. of Rhode Island , Secretary of State of Rhode Island , in the U.S. House from the 2nd district , and in the Rhode Island Senate
Augustus S. Miller
1889
1891
Democratic
Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island from 1903 to 1905
Adin B. Capron
1891
1893
Republican
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 2nd district
Franklin P. Owen
1893
1894
Samuel W. K. Allen
1894
1897
J. Edward Studley
1897
1898
Frank E. Holden
1898
1901
James H. Armington
1901
1903
Joseph P. Burlingame
1903
1906
Arthur W. Dennis
1906
1907
Republican
Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1909 to 1910
Roswell B. Burchard
1907
1911
William C. Bliss
1911
1912
Republican
Ambrose Kennedy
1912
1913
Republican
Also served in U.S. House of Representatives from the 3rd district
Frank F. Davis
1913
1915
Republican
Frank H. Hammill
1915
1919
Republican
Arthur P. Summer
1919
1920
Republican
William R. Fortin
1920
1923
Republican
Philip C. Joslin
1923
1927
Republican
Roy Willard Rawlings
1927
1933
Republican
Father of Rob Roy Rawlings and Lucy Rawlings Tootell
William E. Reddy
1933
1937
Democratic
James H. Kiernan
1937
1939
Democratic
Hugo A. Clason
1939
1941
Republican
Harry F. Curvin
1941
1964
Democratic
Alfred U. Menard
1964
1965
Democratic
John J. Wrenn
1965
1969
Democratic
Joseph A. Bevilacqua
1969
1976
Democratic
Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
John J. Skiffington Jr.
1976
1977
Democratic
Edward P. Manning
1977
1980
Democratic
Matthew J. Smith
1980
1988
Democratic
Joseph DeAngelis
1988
1992
Democratic
John B. Harwood
1993
2002
Democratic
William J. Murphy
2003
2010
Democratic
Gordon Fox
2010
2014
Democratic
Resigned following an FBI raid on his office and home
Nicholas Mattiello
2014
2021
Democratic
Joe Shekarchi
2021
Present
Democratic
See also
References
Notes
^ Prior to 1696, the House of Deputies was organized by the election of the Governor or Deputy Governor as moderator of the body, with the Governor often performing the duties. A speaker was first chosen in 1696 and the title of "Deputies" was changed to "Representatives" in June 1797.[3]
Sources
Italics indicate speakers pro tempore *Unicameral body