William C. Cozzens

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.^[3]

Death

He died on December 17, 1876 and was interment at Island Cemetery in Newport.^[4]

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

Sources

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2

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.