Rhode Island,
One of the thirteen original States of the
Union, and the smallest of the
United States, is bounded on the north and east by
Massachusetts, on the west by
Connecticut, and on the south by the
Atlantic Ocean.
Block Island, about 9 miles from the mainland, is a portion of the
State's territory.
Area, 1,250 square miles, in five counties.
Population 1890, 345,506; 1900, 428,556.
Capitals,
Providence and
Newport.
Roger Williams, banished from
Plymouth colony, with five companies settles at a spot which he calls
Providence......June, 1636
Aquedneck Island settled by eighteen proprietors at
Portsmouth, now
New Town, first called
Pocasset......1637
Canonicus and his nephew Miantinomo, sachems of the Narragansets, deed to
Roger Williams all lands between the
Pawtucket and
Pawtuxet rivers......March 24, 1638
Roger Williams and
Governor Winthrop make a joint purchase of
Prudence Island......Nov. 10, 1638
First general training or militia muster in
Rhode Island held at
Portsmouth......Nov. 12, 1638
Aquedneck purchased from the Indians by “
William Coddington and his friends” ......Nov. 22, 1639
First Baptist Church in
America founded in
Providence......1639
John Clarke and several proprietors of Aquedneck remove to the southern part of the island and found
Newport......1639
First Baptist Church in
Newport founded......1639
Form of government, twelve articles of agreement, framed and adopted by the inhabitants of
Providence......July 27, 1640
Rev. Robert Lenthel called by vote to open a public school in
Newport......1640
General Assembly asserts
Rhode Island to be a democracy, saving only the right of the
King, and grants freedom of religious opinions......March, 1641
Four landholders, three of them original proprietors, at Pawtuxet dissatisfied with the opposition of one
Samuel Gorton and his partisans to the government, offer themselves and their lands to
Massachusetts, and are received by the General Court......Sept. 8, 1642
Samuel Gorton and his companions remove to
Shawomet, where they had purchased lands from the Indians, and commence the settlement of
Warwick......Jan. 12, 1643
Roger Williams is sent to
England as agent for
Providence, Aquedneck, and
Warwick, to secure a charter from the
King......1643
Patent granted by Robert,
Earl of
Warwick,
governor-in-chief and lord high admiral, and commissioners, to planters of the towns of
Providence,
Portsmouth, and
Newport, for incorporation of
Providence Plantations in Narraganset Bay......March 14, 1643
General Court changes the name of Aquedneck to the “Isles of
Rhodes” or
Rhode Island......March 13, 1644
Grant to
John Smith to establish a grist-mill above
Mill Bridge in
Providence, the first in
Rhode Island......1646
[
507]
Committees from
Providence,
Portsmouth,
Newport, and
Warwick at
Portsmouth, adopt the charter of 1643, choose
John Coggeshall president of the colony, and give a tax of £ 100 to
Roger Williams for obtaining the charter......May 19-21, 1647
Canonicus, sachem of the Narragansets, dies......June 4, 1647
William Coddington receives from the council of state in
England a commission, signed by
John Bradshaw, to govern
Rhode Island and
Connecticut during his life, with a council of six, to be named by the people and approved by himself.
Authority procured April 3, 1651, and asserted......August, 1651
Roger Williams sent as agent of
Providence to obtain a confirmation of their charter, and
Dr. John Clarke, agent of
Portsmouth and
Newport, to obtain a repeal of
Coddington's commission, sail for
England......October, 1651
Island towns submit to
Coddington, but the mainland towns, in legislative session, elect
John Smith president, and appoint other officers.
They enact that no man, negro or white, shall be held to service more than ten years after coming into the colony......May, 1652
General Assembly in
Providence passes a libel law, also an alien law; no foreigner to be received as a freeman or to trade with Indians but by consent of the Assembly......October, 1652
William Dyer, secretary of the province, and husband of
Mary Dyer (afterwards executed in
Boston as a Quaker), arrives from
England with news of the repeal of
Coddington's power......Feb. 18, 1653
Assembly of island towns,
Portsmouth and
Newport, restore code of 1647, and elect
John Sandford as president......May 17-18, 1653
Providence and
Warwick with
Portsmouth and
Newport in one General Assembly re-establish code of 1647, forbid sale of liquors to
Indians, and prohibit French and
Dutch trade with them......Aug. 31, 1654
Pawtuxet men withdraw allegiance to
Massachusetts, given in 1642, and transfer it to
Rhode Island......May 26, 1658
Block Island is granted for public services to
Governor Endicott and three others, Oct. 19, 1658, who sell it to
Simon Ray and eight associates in 1660; they begin a settlement......1661
Settlement of Misquamicut, now Westerly, begun......1661
Charter of
Rhode Island and Providence plantations obtained from Charles II.
by
John Clarke, agent for the colony......July 8, 1663
[This charter continued in force till 1843-180 years.]
John Clarke presented with £ 100 and payment of his expenses attendant upon the procuring of the charter......Nov. 24, 1663
Boundary dispute between
Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, and
Connecticut settled by a royal commission......1664
Westerly incorporated as a town......May, 1669
Seventh-Day Baptist Church established at
Newport......1671
George Fox,
Quaker, preaches in
Newport, 1672, and
Roger Williams, seventy-three years old, holds a controversy with three disciples of
Fox at the
Quaker meeting-house at
Newport......Aug. 9-12, 1672
Block Island incorporated by the General Assembly, and at the request of the inhabitants named New Shoreham......Nov. 6, 1672
King Philip's War opens by an Indian massacre at Swanze, Mass.......June 24, 1675
Troops repulsed by King Philip, intrenched in a swamp at
Pocasset, and he withdraws into
Massachusetts......July 18, 1675
First event of King Philip's War in
Rhode Island is the massacre of fifteen persons in
Bull's garrisoned house at South Kingston about Dec. 15, 1675.
Governor Winslow attacks the fort of the Narragansets in a swamp at South Kingston, and after about three hours fighting fires the fort and wigwams......Dec. 19, 1675
Warwick destroyed by
Indians......March 16, 1676
Canonchet, chief of the Narragansets, captured, refuses to ransom his life by making peace, is turned over for execution to friendly
Indians, who send his head “as a token of love and loyalty” to the commissioners at
Hartford......April 4, 1676
[
508]
Massacre in a cedar swamp near
Warwick of 171 Indians by a party of English who did not lose a man......July 3, 1676
King Philip shot through the heart by an Indian while attempting to escape from a swamp near
Mount Hope......Aug. 12, 1676
Governor Benedict Arnold dies June 20, 1678, and is succeeded by
William Coddington......Aug. 28, 1678
Governor Coddington dies Nov. 1, 1678, and is succeeded by deputy-
governor John Cranston......Nov. 15, 1678
Maj. Peleg Sandford succeeds
Cranston as governor, who dies......March 12, 1680
Custom-house established at
Newport to enforce the navigation acts published by the beat of drums......April 1, 1681
Assembly first meets at
Providence under new charter......Oct. 26, 1681
Roger Williams dies, aged eighty-four, and is buried in
Portsmouth......1683
Royal government established in Narraganset, with a court of records, civil and military officers, and
Connecticut and
Rhode Island excluded from jurisdiction......June, 1686
The “
Atherton claim” to land purchased near
Warwick from the Indians by
Humphrey Atherton,
John Winthrop, and others, in 1659, is thrown out by
Governor Andros; but other lands are granted the company by the royal council......1687
Gov. Sir Edmund Andros, stopping at
Newport for the charter of
Rhode Island, is foiled by
Governor Clarke, who sends the charter to his brother to be hidden.
Andros destroys the seal of the colony and departs......November, 1687
Learning of the accession of William and Mary,
Rhode Island resumes the charter government......May 1, 1689
Sir Edmund Andros, who had fled to
Rhode Island from
Boston, is captured by
Major Sandford at
Newport, sent back, and is again imprisoned......Aug. 3, 1689
Seven French privateers capture
Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and
Block Island, but part of the fleet, entering the harbor of
Newport by night, fails in its surprise......July 14, 1690
Capt. Thomas Paine, from
Newport, attacks five French privateers near
Block Island, who withdraw after several hours' fighting......July 21, 1690
Admiralty act passed, conferring power of admiralty court on the general council of
Rhode Island......Jan. 7, 1695
Law dividing the legislature into an upper
House, the council, and a lower House of Delegates from the people......May, 1696
Yearly meeting of Friends established at
Newport......1700
Boundary with
Connecticut established......May 12, 1703
Two sloops, manned by 120 men,
Capt. John Wanton, capture a French privateer with its prize, a sloop loaded with provisions captured the day before near
Block Island......June, 1706
Colony of
Rhode Island first issues paper money (£ 5,000), to defray the expenses of war......Aug. 16 1710
Latin school in
Newport opened by
Mr. Galloway......1711
First quarantine act, against small-pox......1711
First edition of the laws of
Rhode Island printed in
Boston......1719
Thirty-six pirates, captured by
Captain Solgard, of
British ship
Greyhound, off the southeast coast of
Long Island, are brought to
Newport, tried, and twenty-six sentenced and hanged on
Gravelly Point, opposite the town......July 12, 1723
Property qualification for suffrage established, requiring a freehold of value of £ 100 or an annual income of £ 2......Feb. 18, 1724
Boundary-line with
Connecticut signed at Westerly......Sept. 27, 1728
George Berkely, dean of
Derry, afterwards bishop of Cloyne, arrives in
Rhode Island and purchases a farm in
Middletown, near New York......Jan. 23, 1730
[After two and a half years he returned to
England, giving his farm and a collection of books to Yale College.]
Assembly passes an act for the relief of poor sailors; 6d. a month to be deducted for the purpose from the wages of every
Rhode Island seaman......May, 1730
Rhode Island Gazette published by
James Franklin, brother of
Benjamin, for seven months at
Newport; first in the
State......Sept. 27, 1732
A private company petitions the legislature to sanction a lottery; suppressed by statute under a penalty of £ 500 and £ 10 for any one who takes a ticket......Jan. 23, 1733
[
509]
Sloop
Pelican, the first whaling vessel from
Rhode Island, arrives at
Newport with cargo......June, 1733
Assembly meets at
Greenwich for the first time......Feb. 18, 1734
Newport artillery incorporated by act of Assembly......Feb. 1, 1742
Gen. Nathanael Greene born at Potowamet, in township of
Warwick......May 22, 1742
Legislature resolves to raise 150 men and to fit out the colony ship
Tartar for the siege of
Louisburg......May, 1745
Two large privateers, with 400 men, sail from
Newport into a northeast snowstorm, are lost, and nearly 200 women in
Newport are made widows......Dec. 24, 1745
Eastern boundary of
Rhode Island, disputed by
Massachusetts and settled by a royal commission in 1741, is confirmed by royal decree received......Nov. 11, 1746
Company of the Redwood Library, formed in 1735 at
Newport, receives a charter from the colony......August, 1747
Providence Library Association chartered......Feb. 25, 1754
Newport
Mercury first published by
James Franklin......1758
Masonic Society in
Newport incorporated......June 11, 1759
A lottery for raising $2,400 is granted to erect a masonic hall......1759
Property qualification for right of suffrage modified to $134 freehold, or $7.50 annual rent......1762
Providence Gazette and country journal published in
Providence by
William Goddard; first issue......Oct. 20, 1762
Jewish synagogue, erected in
Newport, dedicated......1763
Brown University, chartered in 1764 as the College of Rhode Island, is opened at
Warren......1765
Maidstone, a British vessel, impresses seamen in
Newport Harbor; 500 sailors and boys seize one of her boats, drag it to the commons, and burn it......June 4, 1765
Augustus Johnston,
Martin Howard, Jr., and
Dr. Moffat, who had advocated the Stamp Act, are hanged and burned in effigy at
Newport......Aug. 27, 1765
Samuel Ward, of
Rhode Island, alone of royal governors, refuses the oath to sustain the Stamp Act taking effect......Nov. 1, 1765
Society “The daughters of liberty” organized by eighteen young ladies at
Dr. Ephraim Bowen's house in
Providence......March 4, 1766
British armed sloop
Liberty making an unprovoked assault on a Connecticut brig, the people of
Newport dismantle and scuttle the
Liberty and set her adrift......July 17, 1769
College of Rhode Island (Brown University) removed to
Providence......1771
British schooner
Gaspee, of eight guns,
Capt. William Duddington, stationed at
Newport, destroyed by a body of armed men......June 9, 1772
Rev. Samuel Hopkins and
Rev. Ezra Stiles, of
Newport, invite subscriptions to colonize free negroes on the western shores of
Africa.
This was the inception of the American Colonization Society......August, 1773
People of
Newport in town-meeting resolve that any one aiding or abetting the unloading, receiving, or vending of tea sent by the East India Company or others while subject to duty in
America, is an enemy to his country......Jan. 12, 1774
General Assembly at
Newport elects
Stephen Hopkins and
Samuel Ward delegates to Continental Congress......June 15, 1774
Act of May 22, 1744, creating the “Artillery Company of the county of
Providence,” amended by changing the name to “The cadet Company of the county of
Providence” ......June, 1774
Three hundred pounds of tea publicly burned in Market Square at
Providence, with copies of ministerial documents and other obnoxious papers......March 2, 1775
Gov. Joseph Wanton suspended from office, to which he had just been elected for the seventh time, for upholding the action of the
British government......May 3, 1775
Admiral Wallace, commanding British fleet in
Rhode Island, bombards
Bristol, plunders the people, and burns
Governor Bradford's house and seventeen others, together with two churches......Oct. 7, 1775
Charles Dudley, the
King's collector of customs for
Rhode Island, flees for refuge on board a ship-of-war......Nov. 15, 1775
British troops, 250, landed at
Providence, are driven to their ships by troops from
Warren and
Bristol.
Dec. 13, 1775
[
510]
A false alarm brings troops under
Generals Greene,
Sullivan, and
Washington to
Providence,
Washington returning to New York......April 7, 1776
Last Colonial Assembly of
Rhode Island at
Providence, May 1, 1776; abjures allegiance to the
British crown......May, 1776
Declaration of Independence celebrated in
Rhode Island, which the Assembly names “The
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” ......July, 1776
William Ellery and
Stephen Hopkins, representing
Rhode Island, sign the
Declaration of Independence......1776
Eight thousand British troops land and take possession of
Rhode Island......Nov. 28, 1776
Gen. John Sullivan, appointed by
Washington to succeed
Gen. Joseph Spencer in command in
Rhode Island, arrives at
Providence......April 17, 1777
Col. William Barton, of
Providence, with forty men, guided by a negro,
Quako Honeyman, captures
Gen. Richard Prescott at his quarters, about 5 miles from
Newport......July 10, 1777
[Prescott is afterwards (May, 1778) exchanged for
Gen. Charles Lee, captured by the
British in
New Jersey, December, 1776.]
Articles of Confederation adopted by
Rhode Island......Feb. 9, 1778
British destroy seventy flat-bottomed boats and property on the
Kickemuit River, and burn the church and a number of houses at
Warren......May 25, 1778
William Ellery,
Henry Marchant, and
John Collins sign the
Articles of Confederation......July 9, 1778
French fleet of eleven sail-of-line ships, under
Count d'estaing, appearing off
Brenton's Reef, six British war-vessels attempt to leave the harbor.
They are pursued, and are run ashore and set on fire by their crews......Aug. 5, 1778
While the French fleet, dispersed by storms, refits at
Boston, the
British attack the
Americans on
Butts Hill; the
Americans lose 211 men, the
British somewhat more......Aug. 29, 1778
Americans under
General Sullivan retreat from
Rhode Island to
Tiverton, Aug. 30, 1778, and the British fleet with the army of
Sir Henry Clinton arrives at
Newport......Aug. 31, 1778
Maj. Silas Talbot, with the sloop
Hawk, captures the
Pigot, a British galley which blockaded the eastern passage......Oct. 28, 1778
General Assembly grants £ 500 for distressed inhabitants of
Newport......January, 1779
British embark for New York......Oct. 11-25, 1779
French army lands at
Newport......July 10, 1780
Public reception given to
General Washington in
Newport......March 6, 1781
General Assembly authorizes manumission of slaves, makes free negroes or mulattoes born in the
State after March 1, 1784, and repeals slavery act of 1774......Feb. 23, 1784
Marine Society, instituted in 1754 under the name of “The fellowship Club,” is chartered......June, 1785
Stephen Hopkins dies near
Providence......July 13, 1785
First spinning-jenny in the
United States made and put in operation by
Daniel Jackson, of
Providence......1786
Act passed for emitting £ 100,000 in bills of credit, and making the same a legal tender at par......1786
Newport, incorporated as a city, June 1, 1784, resumes its old form of town government......March 27, 1787
African slave-trade forbidden, with penalties of £ 100 for each person imported from
Africa, and £ 1,000 for the vessel......Oct. 29, 1787
Motion made in the General Assembly for the appointment of delegates to the general convention of the colonies at
Philadelphia is lost by a majority of twenty-three votes......1787
Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers incorporated......March, 1789
Congress subjects to duty all goods from
Rhode Island not of her own production......May, 1789
Assembly addresses the
President and Congress of the eleven States, assigning reasons for opposing the
Constitution, setting forth its attachment to its democratic charter, and the fear that it would be limited by the new federal system......September, 1789
Act passed repealing the legal tender act of 1786, and promising to redeem the paper at the rate of 15 to 1......Oct. 12, 1789
[
511]
After long and bitter opposition the convention assembled at
Newport, adopts the federal Constitution and
bill of rights by 34 to 32, 5 P. M. Saturday......May 29, 1790
Providence Bank, the oldest in the
State, goes into operation......1791
First known copyright granted under the
United States law is made to
Rev. William Patten, of
Newport, for a book entitled
Christianity the true theology......May 9, 1795
Marine corps of artillery chartered at
Providence......1801
College of Rhode Island changed to Brown University in honor of
Nicholas Brown......1804
British occupy
Block Island......1813
Commodore Oliver H. Perry leaves
Newport to take command of the
American squadron on
Lake Erie......1813
Friends' school at
Portsmouth established in 1784, but discontinued after four years, is revived and established at
Providence......1814
President James Monroe visits
Rhode Island......June 30, 1817
Rhode Island Historical Society incorporated......1822
Reception given
General Lafayette at
Providence......Aug. 23, 1824
Commodore Perry dies, aged thirty-four, of yellow fever, on the
United States schooner
Nonesuch in the harbor of Port Spain, island of
Trinidad; buried with military honors at
Newport......Dec. 4, 1826
Act establishing public schools throughout the
State......January, 1828
Race riot in
Providence begins between sailors and negroes, military aid is called in and the riot act read......Sept. 21-24, 1831
City of
Providence incorporated......Nov. 22, 1832
Company incorporated to construct a railroad from
Providence to
Stonington in 1832, and railroad building commenced......1835
Fort Adams in
Newport Harbor, begun in 1824, is completed......1839
Convention of delegates elected by friends of extension of suffrage, without regard to the law regulating the right of voting, at
Providence, Oct. 4, 1841, forms a people's constitution, and declares it adopted by a vote of the people......Dec. 27-29, 1841
Thomas W. Dorr elected governor under the people's constitution......April 18, 1842
Dorr government attempts to organize, May 3, 1842, but is resisted by legal State government......May 3, 1842
Constitution to supersede the charter of 1663 is framed by a convention which meets at
Newport, Sept. 12, 1842, adjourns to
East Greenwich, and completes its labors Nov. 5; constitution ratified by vote of the people, 7,032 to 59......Nov. 21-23, 1842
Franklin Lyceum, formed in 1831, is incorporated at
Providence......1843
Dorr sentenced to imprisonment for life......June 25, 1844
Dorr, released from prison under an act of general amnesty in 1847, is restored to civil and political rights......1851
Rhode Island adopts the
Maine liquor law......May 7, 1852
Newport incorporated as a city......May 20, 1853
Statue of
Franklin unveiled at
Providence......Nov. 19, 1858
Legislature repeals the personal liberty bill......January, 1861
On news of the fall of
Fort Sumter, the governor tenders the United States government 1,000 infantry and a battalion of artillery.
He convenes the legislature in extra session, April 17, and the Rhode Island Marine Artillery pass through New York on their way to
Washington......April 20, 1861
Legislature ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment......1865
Legislature ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment......Feb. 7, 1867
Board of State charities and correction established......1869
State farm, 421 acres in town of
Cranston, afterwards site of State-house of correction, State work-house, State asylum for incurable insane, and State almshouse, is purchased......1869
Rhode Island woman suffrage association convention at
Providence......October, 1869
Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States is ratified......Jan. 18, 1870
Cove lands ceded to the towns by the colony, May 28, 1707, are conveyed to the city of
Providence by the
State on payment of $200,000......1870
[
512]
Legislature, by 56 to 2, abolishes imprisonment for debt......1870
Statue of
Roger Williams, executed for the
State by
Franklin Simmons, presented to the federal government to be placed in the
Capitol......March, 1871
Free public library, art gallery, and museum for the city of
Providence chartered......1871
Prohibition party in the
State adopt the
Republican candidate for governor,
Henry Howard......1873
State convention of the Prohibition party at the State-house in
Providence nominates “a distinct, separate, teetotal prohibition ticket for State officers,” with
Henry Howard for governor, Feb. 26, 1874.
The Republican party adopt
Howard by acclamation, March 11.
The Democratic convention at
Providence, March 23, adjourns without platform or ticket......March 23, 1874
Stringent prohibition law is passed, and a constabulary act provided for enforcing it......May, 1874
Vote for governor at election, April 7, 1875:
Rowland Hazard, of the National Union Republican and Prohibition parties, 8,724;
Henry Lippitt, Republican, 8,368;
Charles B. Cutler, Democrat, 5,166.
There being no choice, the legislature elects
Lippitt by 70, to 36 for
Hazard......May 25, 1875
Constabulary act repealed, and an act “to regulate and restrain the sale of intoxicating liquors” passed in its place......1875
Corliss engine of 1,400 horse-power, and weighing 700 tons, by
George H. Corliss, of
Providence, is set in motion at the opening of the
Centennial Exhibition in
Philadelphia by
President U. S. Grant and
Dom Pedro II.,
Emperor of
Brazil......May 10, 1876
There being no choice for governor at the April election,
Henry Lippitt, Republican, is chosen by the legislature......May 30, 1876
First board of harbor commissioners appointed by the governor......June 14, 1876 State board of health established......1878
Legislature elects
Alfred H. Littlefield, Republican, governor, there being no choice at the election in April......May 25, 1880
Act passed abolishing the tribal authority and relation of the
Narraganset Indians......1880
Congress awards the first-class gold medal to
Mrs. Ida Lewis Wilson, keeper of
Lime Rock light-house, who, since 1859, had saved thirteen lives at the risk of her own......1881
Senator Ambrose E. Burnside, born at
Liberty, Ind., 1824, governor of
Rhode Island, 1866-69, dies......Sept. 3, 1881
Colored voters of
Rhode Island, in convention at
Newport, resolve hereafter to act independently of the Republican party......Oct. 18, 1882
Amendment to the
State constitution prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, goes into effect......July 1, 1886
Compulsory education act passed requiring at least twelve weeks of school attendance, six of them consecutive, by all children between seven and fifteen years of age......1887
Arbor Day established as a legal holiday......1887
City of
Woonsocket incorporated......1888
Bourn amendment to the
State constitution, abolishing property qualification for electors, proclaimed by governor......November, 1888
State agricultural school established by act of legislature......1888
Vote at April election for governor:
John W. Davis, Democrat, 21,289;
H. W. Ladd, Republican, 16,870;
James H. Chace, Law Enforcement party, 3,597;
H. H. Richardson, Prohibition, 1,346.
There being no choice, the legislature chose
H. W. Ladd......May 28, 1889
Prohibitory amendment rescinded at a special election, June 20, 1889, and a highlicense law passed......Aug. 1, 1889
Australian ballot-reform law passed......1889
First State convention of the
Union Reform party held, and
Arnold B. Chace nominated for governor......Feb. 25, 1889
Australian ballot system introduced at State election......April 2, 1889
John W. Davis elected governor by the legislature, there being no choice by the people......May, 1890
Celebration of the centennial of the introduction of cotton-spinning into
America begins at
Providence......Sept. 29, 1890
[
513]
Monument to
Samuel Smith Collyer dedicated at
Pawtucket at close of cotton centennial celebration......Oct. 4, 1890
Vote for governor:
Davis, Democrat, 22,249;
Ladd, Republican, 20,995;
Larry, Prohibition, 1,829;
Burton, National, 384......April 1, 1891
Soldiers' home at
Bristol dedicated......May 21, 1891
Herbert W. Ladd, Republican, elected governor by the legislature......May 26, 1891
Ex-Gov. Henry Lippitt dies at
Newport, aged seventy-three......June 5, 1891
New State-house authorized and $1,500,000 in bonds ordered issued......1893
Plurality election amendment to the constitution adopted......Nov. 28, 1893
D. Russell Brown re-elected governor......April, 1894
Ocean House at
Newport burned......Sept. 9, 1898
Roger Williams Park received $200,000 from
Anna H. Man, and $200,000 from
Charles H. Smith......1900
The trading-stamp law declared unconstitutional......1900
New City Hall,
Newport, completed......October, 1900
Constitutional amendment changing time of election, adopted......November, 1900
New State-house completed......1901
South Carolina