United States Senator. In addition to being a senator, he was also a physician and a lawyer. He studied medicine at Hingham, Massachusetts and moved to Warren, Rhode Island to establish a medical practice. He then relocated to Bristol, Rhode Island and built a home that was known as Mount Hope Farm. He was first elected to the colonial assembly in 1761 and served several terms, not consecutive, through 1803. He entered the study of law to expand his abilities and was admitted to the bar in 1767. He established a law practice in Bristol. In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress but never attended a session. After the British Navy shelled Bristol in 1775 and destroyed his home, he went aboard ship to negotiate a cease fire. After the United States Government was formed he was elected to the Senate and took office on March 3, 1793. He became the President pro tempore of the Senate on July 6, 1797 and resigned his seat in October of that year. He returned to Bristol and Mount Hope Farm where he remained until his death. He was originally interred in Bristol's East Burying Ground, but his body was later moved to its present location.

United States Senator. In addition to being a senator, he was also a physician and a lawyer. He studied medicine at Hingham, Massachusetts and moved to Warren, Rhode Island to establish a medical practice. He then relocated to Bristol, Rhode Island and built a home that was known as Mount Hope Farm. He was first elected to the colonial assembly in 1761 and served several terms, not consecutive, through 1803. He entered the study of law to expand his abilities and was admitted to the bar in 1767. He established a law practice in Bristol. In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress but never attended a session. After the British Navy shelled Bristol in 1775 and destroyed his home, he went aboard ship to negotiate a cease fire. After the United States Government was formed he was elected to the Senate and took office on March 3, 1793. He became the President pro tempore of the Senate on July 6, 1797 and resigned his seat in October of that year. He returned to Bristol and Mount Hope Farm where he remained until his death. He was originally interred in Bristol's East Burying Ground, but his body was later moved to its present location.

Bio by: Tom Todd