14th Governor of Rhode Island, US Representative, and US Senator. He engaged in mercantile pursuits and was involved in the family business, the A & W Sprague Manufacturing Company, which became the largest calico printing textile mill in the world at that time. He was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives and served as speaker from 1832 until 1835, when he was elected as an at-large candidate from the Whig Party to the 24th Congress, serving from March 1835 to March 1837. In 1838 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island and subsequently was elected as a Whig to the US Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Nathan F. Dixon, serving from February 1842 to January 1844, when he resigned in order to assume active control of the family business following the murder of his brother Amasa on New Year's Eve in 1843. During his time in the US Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Enrolled Bills in the 27th Congress. In 1848 he was a US presidential elector on the Whig ticket. In addition to the family business, he was president of the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad, and of two banks. He died at the age of 56.
14th Governor of Rhode Island, US Representative, and US Senator. He engaged in mercantile pursuits and was involved in the family business, the A & W Sprague Manufacturing Company, which became the largest calico printing textile mill in the world at that time. He was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives and served as speaker from 1832 until 1835, when he was elected as an at-large candidate from the Whig Party to the 24th Congress, serving from March 1835 to March 1837. In 1838 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island and subsequently was elected as a Whig to the US Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Nathan F. Dixon, serving from February 1842 to January 1844, when he resigned in order to assume active control of the family business following the murder of his brother Amasa on New Year's Eve in 1843. During his time in the US Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Enrolled Bills in the 27th Congress. In 1848 he was a US presidential elector on the Whig ticket. In addition to the family business, he was president of the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad, and of two banks. He died at the age of 56.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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