Herbert W. Ladd
Herbert Warren Ladd | |
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Official portrait in the RI State House. Note the bicycle seat visible to Ladd's left.
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40th Governor of Rhode Island | |
In office May 28, 1889 – May 26, 1890 |
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Lieutenant | Daniel Littlefield |
Preceded by | Royal C. Taft |
Succeeded by | John W. Davis |
42nd Governor of Rhode Island | |
In office May 26, 1891 – May 31, 1892 |
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Preceded by | John W. Davis |
Succeeded by | Daniel Russell Brown |
Personal details | |
Born | New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts |
October 15, 1843
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. |
Resting place | Swan Point Cemetery |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Emma Burrows |
Parents | Warren Ladd and Lucy Washburn Kingman |
Profession | Dry goods merchant, Politician |
Signature |
Herbert Warren Ladd (October 15, 1843 – November 29, 1913) was the 40th and 42nd Governor of Rhode Island for two terms: 1889–90 and 1891–92.
Contents
Life and career
Ladd was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts on October 15, 1843. He was one of five children of Warren Ladd and Lucy Washburn Kingman.[1] The elder Ladd was involved in New Bedford city politics.
Herbert started his career after high school as a dry goods merchant. During the Civil War he became a reporter for the New Bedford Mercury newspaper, covering several Massachusetts regiments. At war's end, he returned to the dry goods business, first in Boston, then in Rhode Island. His firm was called Ladd and Davis, later renamed the H.W. Ladd Company.[2]
On May 25, 1870,[3] Ladd married Emma Burrows of Providence; she died in 1889,[4] just as her husband began his term as governor.[3] They had six children.[4]
He was an active member of the Freemasons.[5]
Governor
When Ladd first ran for governor, in 1889, he was little-known in the state.[6] In a three-way race, he received fewer votes than Democrat John W. Davis (the third candidate, with the fewest votes, was from the Prohibition Party). Under the rules of the time, if no candidate received an outright majority, the result would be decided by the General Assembly.[7] The Republican-controlled Assembly chose Ladd.
In fact, Davis received more votes than Ladd three times, in 1889, 1890, and 1891, without receiving a majority in all three races.[7] The Assembly decided in favor of Ladd twice (1889 and 1891) and for Davis in 1890.[7] This situation was eventually remedied in November 1893 by the adoption of Amendment X to the Rhode Island Constitution, which allowed for a winner by plurality vote.[7]
State House commission
In Ladd's first address as Governor, he advocated for building a new State House.[4] Ladd was named chairman of the State House Commission.[1] The General Assembly announced an architectural competition for designs; however, Ladd and commission advisor Richard Morris Hunt decided they wanted Charles Follen McKim for the job, and made sure that he "won" the competition.[8] It was reported that Ladd paid a "considerable amount of money" out of his own pocket to help pay for the construction when the state was low on funds, and was never reimbursed for the monies.[6]
Good roads
Ladd, whose official State House portrait depicts him with a bicycle, was a supporter of the Good Roads Movement, a national road-building initiative led by bicyclists. In 1892, Ladd wrote an essay for a League of American Wheelmen publication Good Roads outlining his belief that expanding and paving streets was as important to Rhode Island as having good railroads.[9]
Other achievements
- During the summer of 1889, Ladd hosted president Harrison and ex-president Cleveland in Newport.[3][6]
- In fall of 1889, Ladd invited business leaders to Providence to discuss the location of the upcoming World's Fair.[3]
- Ladd authorized new uniforms for the Rhode Island state militia.[3]
Post-Governorship
After serving two nonconsecutive terms, Ladd never ran again for public office.[6] He involved himself with several organizations. He founded and served as president for three years of the Commercial Club.[6] He was also president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.[6] He was a member of the YMCA, the Rhode Island Choral Association, the Board of Trade, the Providence Press Club, and the Hope Club.[6]
In 1889, at the 121st Commencement of Brown University, Ladd announced that he would donate an astronomical observatory to the school.[6] The expected cost was $25,000, but the building reportedly cost over $40,000.[6] The Ladd Observatory, completed in 1891, is named in his honor.[10][6]
Death
Ladd died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 30, 1913 at Butler Hospital after a long illness.[4][6] He was interred at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island.[11]
Honors and legacy
The Ladd Laboratory, an agricultural research facility established at the University of Rhode Island in 1891, was named for Governor Ladd.[12]
Ladd received an honorary Master of Arts Degree from Brown University in 1892.[6][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/RI/masons.html
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Ladd Observatory at www.brown.edu
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ University of Rhode Island - URI History and Timeline at www.uri.edu
Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | Governor of Rhode Island 1889–1890 |
Succeeded by John W. Davis |
Preceded by | Governor of Rhode Island 1891–1892 |
Succeeded by Daniel Russell Brown |