William C. Cozzens

William Cole Cozzens
28th Governor of Rhode Island
In office
March 3, 1863  May 26, 1863
Lieutenant Governor Vacant
Preceded by William Sprague IV
Succeeded by James Y. Smith
3rd Mayor of Newport, Rhode Island
In office
1854–1855
Preceded by George Henry Calvert
Succeeded by William J. Swinburne
Personal details
Born (1811-08-26)August 26, 1811
Newport, Rhode Island
Died December 17, 1875(1875-12-17) (aged 64)
Resting place Island Cemetery, Newport
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Martha Stanton Gould
Profession Banker, Businessman

William Cole Cozzens (August 26, 1811 – December 17, 1876) was an American politician and the 28th Governor of Rhode Island.

Early life

Cozzens was born in Newport, Rhode Island on August 26, 1811.[1]

He married Martha Stanton Gould; the couple had five children. He was a successful dry goods businessman and President of the Rhode Island Union Bank.[2]

Political career

Cozzens was a Democrat. He was a mayor of Newport and represented Newport in both houses of the Rhode Island General Assembly. He was president of the state Senate and thus became governor of Rhode Island on March 3, 1863, when William Sprague resigned to become a US Senator. Cozzens ran in the next gubernatorial election, but lost to Republican James Y. Smith and left office on May 26, 1863. (Normally the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island would become governor in the event of the governor's resignation; however, at that time the office of lieutenant governor was vacant due to the resignation in December 1862 of Lieutenant Governor Samuel G. Arnold to become a United States Senator.)[3]

Death

He died on December 17, 1875 and was interred at the Island Cemetery in Newport.[4]

His great-grandson, James Gould Cozzens, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist.

Sources

William C. Cozzens at Find a Grave

References

  1. The Political Graveyard, Index to Politicians: Coxe to Cragun, Cozzens.
  2. National Governors Association profile of Governor Cozzens
  3. National Governors Association, as above.
  4. The Political Graveyard, as above.
Political offices
Preceded by
William Sprague IV
Governor of Rhode Island
1863
Succeeded by
James Y. Smith
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