Samuel Greene Arnold Jr. (April 12, 1821February 14, 1880) was an American attorney and politician from

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

and as a

United States senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

Early life

Born in

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in some religions * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

, Arnold received his early education under private tutors, then graduated from

Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...

in 1841 and

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, Harvard Law School is the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United ...

in 1845. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

in 1845, and practiced in Providence. He was also a historian, and he served as a trustee of Brown University from 1848 to 1880.

Career

Arnold was elected

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

of Rhode Island in 1852 and served as acting governor. In 1859, he was elected an Associate Fellow of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

, where he wrote the two-volume ''History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations'' in 1859. He was a member of the peace commission held at

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, in 1861 in an effort to prevent the impending civil war. In March 1861, Arnold was again elected lieutenant governor after being nominated by the Constitutional Union and Democratic Conventions. He was again elected lieutenant governor in 1862. Shortly after the outbreak of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, Arnold was appointed as a military aide to Governor William Sprague with rank of colonel, and he raised the

1st Rhode Island Battery The First Rhode Island Battery (also known as "Tompkins' Marine Artillery") was an artillery unit which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service record The 1st Rhode Island Battery was organized by Colonel Samuel G. Arn ...

of light artillery, which went to Washington, D.C., and was mustered into the Union Army for three months. He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James F. Simmons, and he served from December 1, 1862, to March 3, 1863. After his time in the Senate, he returned to historical research and was president of the Rhode Island Historical Society from 1868 to 1880. He died in Providence on February 13, 1880; interment was in Swan Point Cemetery.

Family

He married his cousin Louisa Gindrat Arnold (1828–1905), the daughter of his father's uncle Richard J. Arnold (1796–1873). He wrote, "I have brought up my cousin for years to make her my wife, for I am so fastidious and particular on that matter that I knew I never should find a lady to suit me in all respects unless I educated her for the purpose. This is an original idea to be sure." Arnold's grandnephew

Theodore Francis Green Theodore Francis Green (October 2, 1867May 19, 1966) was an American politician from Rhode Island. A Democrat, Green served as the 57th Governor of Rhode Island (1933–1937) and in the United States Senate (1937–1961). Green was a strong su ...

was also a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.

References

External links

* Retrieved on 2008-02-14 *
Samuel G. and Louisa G. Arnold papers

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnold, Samuel G. 1821 births 1880 deaths Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island Baptists from Rhode Island Rhode Island Republicans Brown University alumni Harvard Law School alumni 19th-century American historians 19th-century American male writers Union army officers People of Rhode Island in the American Civil War Lieutenant governors of Rhode Island Republican Party United States senators from Rhode Island Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Burials at Swan Point Cemetery 19th-century Rhode Island politicians 19th-century Baptists American male non-fiction writers Historians from Rhode Island 19th-century United States senators