Arthur Fenner
4th Governor of Rhode Island
In office May 5, 1790 – October 15, 1805
Lieutenant Governor	Samuel J. Potter George Brown Samuel J. Potter Paul Mumford
Preceded by	John Collins
Succeeded by	Henry Smith
Personal details
Born	(1745-12-10)December 10, 1745 Providence,Colony of Rhode Island,British America[1]
Died	October 15, 1805(1805-10-15) (aged 59) Providence,Rhode Island,U.S.[1]
Resting place	North Burial Ground
Political party	Country Party
Spouse	Amey Comstock

Arthur Fenner (December 10, 1745 – October 15, 1805) was an American politician who served as thefourth Governor ofRhode Island from 1790 until his death in 1805. He has the ninthlongest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,641 days,^[2] and the longest uninterrupted one. Fenner was a prominentCountry Party (Anti-Federalist) leader. Around 1764, Fenner joined several others as a petitioner for the chartering of theCollege in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the original name forBrown University).^[3]

Fenner was born in 1745 to a prominent family inProvidence, Rhode Island, in theColony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the eleventh of twelve children.^[4] His parents were Arthur Fenner, Jr. (October 17, 1699 – January 21, 1788)^[5] and Mary Olney (September 30, 1704 – March 18, 1756).^[5] The Fenner family owned a wharf known as Fenner's Wharf, where theGaspee Affair occurred in 1772.^[6] The wharf was located near what is now 155 South Main Street in Providence.^[4]

His ancestorCaptain Arthur Fenner (1622–1703) had been a member of the Town Council, an associate ofRoger Williams, and fought inKing Philip's War.^[1]

During theAmerican Revolution he served as a lieutenant inHitchcock's Regiment in 1775 during theSiege of Boston. He then served as a captain inBabcock's/Lippitt's Regiment of Rhode Island state troops in 1776. For many years before becoming governor, Fenner served as the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.^[4]

He served as governor ofRhode Island from 1790 to 1805 and died in office. Fenner was governor of Rhode Island when it became the last of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution on May 29, 1790. The following quote is from theDictionary of American Biography:

In March 1790, the contest betweenFederalists andAnti-Federalists in Rhode Island reached its height, (and) the long-delayed convention to decide upon the adoption of the Constitution (had) been called, (with)Governor Collins having become unpopular in consequence. (With the elections approaching,)Deputy-Governor Owen was offered the governor-ship by the Anti-Federalists, but declined to serve. 'A movement,' says Arnold, 'was made in Providence to form a coalition party. The Newport committee united with them in proposing (to put on the ballot) Arthur Fenner, an Anti-Federalist. The Anti-Federalists triumphed, and on May 5, 1790, the general assembly declared Fenner governor andSamuel J. Potter deputy-governor.

Opposition to entering the Union was so strong, … (that a vote to adopt the Constitution) was delayed until the last week in May, and when on the 29th, a decision was reached, the vote stood thirty-four to thirty-two in favor of adopting the Constitution.

Governor Fenner was very popular, and continued in office, serving at the time of his death.

Significant events during Fenner's time in office:

• George Washington visited Rhode Island (August 1790)^[1]
• TheProvidence Bank was established (1791)^[1]
• The Weybosset Bridge was rebuilt (1792)^[1]
• TheBlackstone Canal was begun (February 1796)^[1]
• PresidentJohn Adams visited Providence (1797)^[1]
• The Great Fire on the west side of South Main Street, opposite the foot of Planet Street, did $300,000 worth of damage (January 21, 1801)^[1]

Fenner marriedAmey Comstock (c. 1749 – September 5, 1828, in her 80th yr.), daughter ofGideon Comstock ofSmithfield, Rhode Island.

His son,James Fenner, gave up his position as a US senator to be elected governor two years after his father's death. James served from 1807 to 1811, from 1824 to 1831, and from 1843 to 1845. Arthur and Amey Fenner were members of theFirst Baptist Church in America, at Providence. They had five children:

1. Arthur Fenner Jr. (November 9, 1766 – September 27, 1837);fifer in various companies; lived atFairfield, New York, in 1827; married Lydia Sabin (born 1766), daughter ofThomas Sabin, on December 8, 1787; they had Harriet Elizabeth (February 7, 1805 – May 2, 1829)
2. Amy (February 16, 1769 – May 7, 1772, age 3)
3. James Fenner (January 22, 1771 – April 17, 1846); Governor of Rhode Island, marriedSarah Jenckes
4. Joseph (c. 1773 – July 18, 1797, in Providence, age 24)
5. Sally (1778 – August 21, 1794, at Newport, age 16)

• Gov. Arthur in the Fenner Family Tree
• Brown University CharterArchived July 16, 2011, at theWayback Machine
• Official Site of the Governor of Rhode Island
• Genealogy of the Fenner Family
• Arthur Fenner atFind a Grave
• George Washington correspondence from the Rhode Island State Archives

• 1745 births
• 1805 deaths
• Brown University people
• University and college founders
• Governors of Rhode Island
• Country Party (Rhode Island) state governors of the United States
• Baptists from Rhode Island
• History of Christianity in the United States
• History of the Thirteen Colonies
• Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence)
• Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island

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