36th Rhode Island Governor. In 1855 he graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and entered the rubber business in which his father was the senior partner. Upon his father’s death in 1859 he assumed the role of senior partner, building it into the National Rubber Company, the forerunner to present day Uniroyal. During the Civil War he served in the Rhode Island Militia. His political career began in 1876 when he was elected as a Republican to the Rhode Island State Senate from Bristol, serving in the office until 1883. That year he was the Republican State Committee nominate for Governor, and in the subsequent race defeated William Sprague for the office. He served as Rhode Island’s Chief Executive from 1883 to 1885. Re-elected to the Rhode Island State Senate after leaving the Governorship, he served then from 1886 to 1888. From 1889 to 1893 he served as Counsel General to Italy, having been appointed by President Benjamin Harrison. He passed away at age 90 in 1925.
36th Rhode Island Governor. In 1855 he graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and entered the rubber business in which his father was the senior partner. Upon his father’s death in 1859 he assumed the role of senior partner, building it into the National Rubber Company, the forerunner to present day Uniroyal. During the Civil War he served in the Rhode Island Militia. His political career began in 1876 when he was elected as a Republican to the Rhode Island State Senate from Bristol, serving in the office until 1883. That year he was the Republican State Committee nominate for Governor, and in the subsequent race defeated William Sprague for the office. He served as Rhode Island’s Chief Executive from 1883 to 1885. Re-elected to the Rhode Island State Senate after leaving the Governorship, he served then from 1886 to 1888. From 1889 to 1893 he served as Counsel General to Italy, having been appointed by President Benjamin Harrison. He passed away at age 90 in 1925.
Bio by: Matthew Fatale
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Bourn memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
