William C. Gibbs
| William Channing Gibbs | |
|---|---|
 Official Rhode Island State House portrait by James Sullivan Lincoln | |
| 10th Governor of Rhode Island | |
|
In office May 2, 1821 – May 5, 1824 | |
| Preceded by | Nehemiah R. Knight |
| Succeeded by | James Fenner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 10, 1789 Newport, Rhode Island |
| Died | February 24, 1871 (aged 82) |
| Resting place | Island Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Kane |
William Channing Gibbs (February 10, 1789 – February 24, 1871) was the tenth Governor of Rhode Island from 1821 to 1824.
Early life
Gibbs was born in Newport, Rhode Island, the son of George Gibbs and Mary Channing. He served in the state militia, rising to the rank of major general.
Family
Governor Gibbs was married to Mary Kane, with whom he had ten children.
One daughter, Sarah Gibbs, married Robert Means Thompson, a naval officer, business executive and president of the American Olympic Association.[1]
His son, Theodore K. Gibbs (born in 1840), served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st Artillery in October 1861 and was promoted to 1st lieutenant in February 1862. He received brevets (honorary promotions) to the ranks of captain and major for gallantry in action at the battles of Olustee, Florida and Cold Harbor, Virginia respectively. He was a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He resigned from the Army in May 1870 and lived in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island until his death in 1909.[2]
Another son, Eugene Beauharnais Gibbs (born in 1833), served as a captain in the 2nd California Infantry during the Civil War. After the war, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant the 8th Infantry in the Regular Army, rose to the rank of captain, and served until his death in 1882.
Political career
He was a representative in Rhode Island's General Assembly from 1816 to 1820. He served as governor from May 2, 1821 to May 5, 1824.
During the three terms that he was governor, the state ballot held the queston of expanding suffrage, but it was constantly rejected. In his last term, a Constitutional Convention drafted a document about voting rights irregularities, nevertheless, no changes to the State Constitution were accepted by the voters.[3]
Governor Gibbs died in 1871 and is buried in the Island Cemetery in Newport with his wife and his son Theodore Kane Gibbs.
References
- ↑ Commanders-in-Chief Biographies of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Robert Means Thompson
- ↑ http://www.redwoodlibrary.org/sites/redwoodlibrary.org/files/attachments/research-aids/RLC.Ms_.537%20Theodore%20K.%20Gibbs%20commissions.pdf
- ↑ "Rhode Island Governor William Channing Gibbs". National Governors Association. National Governors Association. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
External links
Robert Means Thompson http://www.suvcw.org/mollus/pcinc/rmthompson.htm
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nehemiah R. Knight |
Governor of Rhode Island 1821–1824 |
Succeeded by James Fenner |
