Seth Padelford

Seth Padelford (October 3, 1807 – August 26, 1878) was the 31st Governor of Rhode Island from 1869 to 1873.

Seth Padelford
Official portrait in the Rhode Island State House by James Sullivan Lincoln
31st Governor of Rhode Island
In office
May 25, 1869 – May 27, 1873
LieutenantPardon Stevens
Charles Cutler
Preceded byAmbrose Burnside
Succeeded byHenry Howard
Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
In office
1863–1865
GovernorJames Y. Smith
Preceded bySamuel G. Arnold
Succeeded byDuncan Pell
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Personal details
Born(1807-10-03)October 3, 1807
Taunton, Massachusetts
DiedAugust 26, 1878(1878-08-26) (aged 70)
Providence, Rhode Island
Resting placeSwan Point Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionPolitician

Biography

Padelford was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. He worked as a grocer, as well as serving on the City Council of Providence, Rhode Island, the Providence School Committee and in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Padelford was a Unitarian and an ardent abolitionist with ties to the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which armed and organized settlers who took part in the "Bleeding Kansas" conflict. In 1860, he was nominated as the Republican Party candidate for Governor of Rhode Island. Anti-war Republicans and textile interests joined Democrats to back the young William Sprague IV, the nephew of former Rhode Island Governor and Senator William Sprague III. Sprague, running as a "Conservative" against Padelford's "Radical" candidacy, won the election by a margin of 12,278 to 10,740 votes, with twice the customary turnout at the polls.[1]

After the American Civil War began in 1861, Padelford won two consecutive elections for Lieutenant Governor, serving from 1863 to 1865. He was elected Governor in 1869, serving four terms before stepping down.

Padelford died in 1878 in Providence, and is buried in Swan Point Cemetery.[2]

Family
  • John Peirce, step-son - participated in the development of the telephone.

References
  1. Young, Robin (2005). For Love and Liberty: The Untold Civil War Story of Major Sullivan Ballou and His Famous Love Letter. Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 154–155. ISBN 1-56025-724-5.
  2. "Notable Persons Interred at Swan Point Cemetery". Swan Point Cemetery. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
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