Canonicus and Miantonomi were Sachems of the Narragansett tribe who obtained their dominance through persuasion rather than violence. They allowed Roger Williams to establish Providence on their tribal lands. Read more >
Dr. Aronson, of Rehoboth, MA, is an internationally acclaimed medical educator and researcher, founding Dean of the Brown University Medical School, co-founder of Hospice Care of Rhode Island and the Interfaith Health Care Ministries, prolific author and editor of the Rhode Island Medical Journal, and a person key to the establishment of diagnostic laboratory test for Tay Sachs Disease and Muscular Dystrophy. Read more >
Dr. Clarke was a physician, Baptist clergyman, and Statesman. As the Colony’s agent in England he secured a liberal charter for Rhode Island in 1663 from King Charles II. He became one of Rhode Island’s foremost advocates in the separation of Church and State. Read more >
Mr. Coddington was the founder of Portsmouth and Newport, and three-time Governor of Rhode Island. He was a shrewd politician and merchant, and had a large Newport Estate on which he bred livestock. Read more >
Mr. Corcoran, formerly of Pawtucket, was a brilliant attorney nicknamed "Tommy the Cork", and a close companion to Oliver Wendell Holmes. He later became one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s most trusted advisors, and a high level official for the powerful Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Read more >
Mr. DaVerrazzano was an Italian explorer and navigator who sailed in service of France. In 1524 he crossed the Atlantic and explored Narragansett Bay. He gave Rhode Island its name. Read more >
Mr. Dexter was one of London’s finest printers. He became the printer for Roger Williams. He also served the State during several crises and was elected President of the Colony. Read more >
Ms. Dyer was a Quaker Missionary and martyr. She moved to Rhode Island in 1638 and became one of the founders of Portsmouth. She ultimately returned to Boston where she was hanged for supporting the Quakers. Read more >
The Goff Brothers, formerly of Pawtucket, were the sons of the Honorable Darius Goff, and members of one of the most prominent industrialist families in New England. They were partners in D. Goff & Sons, which occupied a foremost position among regional industrial concerns. They were credited with introducing electric power to the City of Pawtucket, and deeply involved in civic and cultural affairs. Read more >
Mr. Harris was one of a handful of adherents who gathered with Roger Williams in exile and settled in Pawtuxet. He was an individual rights champion who added greatly to that early ferment that characterized Rhode Island. Read more >
Ms. Hassenfeld, formerly of Providence, lived in both New York City and Palm Beach, FL. She was widely recognized as an outstanding civic, cultural, and philanthropic leader of international communal services for more than 40 years. She was President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for non-sectarian humanitarian work, and a prominent member of many Boards of Trustees, including the NYU Medical Center, Brandeis University, and the Hasbro Children’s Foundation. Read more >
Mr. Hassett, of East Greenwich, was one of Rhode Island's all-time basketball greats, two-time all-stater, schoolboy All-American, and most valuable player for LaSalle Academy. He later starred for Providence College, becoming the third highest scorer in Friars history. He was twice-named All-New England and as an All-American, played for the NBA's World Champion Seattle Supersonics. Read more >
Ms. Hutchinson, formerly of Pocasset which is now Portsmouth, was born in England and immigrated to the Mass Bay Colony in 1634. Her early liberal upbringing and Puritan leanings inspired her to take a strong part in the religious life of the community, which led to her banishment from the Colony. She later took up residence with her family in Rhode Island and became one of the most influential religious activists of her time. Read more >
Mrs. Langdon-Kelly, of Little Compton, was affectionately known to all as “Poggy”. She, along with Dr. Eric Denhoff, founded Rhode Island’s famed Meeting Street School, a world renowned institution providing early education as well as medical intervention for special needs children. Read more >
Massasoit Metacomet was also known as ‘King Phillip’. He was the Sachem of all Sachems from the Royal House of the Pokanokets of the Wampanoags. A native patriot who tried to preserve his own civilization and his people’s autonomy in the face of overwhelming odds. He died during the King Phillip War on the 12th of August, 1676. Read more >
Reverend Newman was a learned clergyman. He was the first prominent settler of East Providence at Rumford. He was acclaimed for his studies of the King James Bible, and he established the Newman Congregational Church. Read more >
Major General Salesses, of Newport, was a retired U.S. Marine Corp Officer and accomplished Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rhode Island College. The first reservist to command a marine division, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs , and later on the Secretary of Defense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. Read more >
Mr. Smith was an entreprenuer and by far the most important early settler of South County, RI. He constructed ‘Smith’s Castle’, or Cocumscussoc in Wickford. Read more >
Maria Spacagna, formerly of Providence and now living in East Greenwich, distinguished soprano and a regular guest of leading opera companies throughout the world whose many prominent recordings have earned critical acclaim. A noted performer of the role of Madame Butterfly, she is the first American-born artist to interpret the role at the famed La Scala, has starred at the Metropolitan Opera and many other prominent venues, earning international recognition. Read more >
Mr. Willett was a Captain of the Colonial Militia. He was the principle early settler of Riverside and Barrington. As a trusted friend of the natives he bought large tracts of land from them. Read more >
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