William Greene letter (RLC.Ms.576)

Biographical note

William Greene, Jr. (1731–1809) was the second governor of the state of Rhode Island, in office for eight years between 1778 and 1786. Prior to his role as governor, William Greene served as deputy of Warwick, R.I. for four years in 1774-1777, and then as a Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice in 1778. His father, William Greene (1695-1758), had been governor for 11 years, serving four separate terms, and ultimately dying in office. His grandfather, John Greene, Jr. (1620-1708) had been deputy governor of the colony and his great grandfather, John Greene (1594-1658) had been one of the founding settlers of Providence and Warwick, R.I.

Greene married his second cousin, Catharine Ray (1731-1794) of Block Island, in 1762. Ms. Ray was a close correspondent of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), and the couple had four children: Ray (1765-1849), Samuel, Phebe and Celia. William Greene, Jr., died at his estate in Warwick, R.I., on November 29, 1809, and is buried nearby, in the Governor Greene Cemetery.