Elisha Dyer

Elisha Dyer (July 20, 1811 - May 17, 1890) was an American politician and a former governor of Rhode Island.

Dyer was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 20, 1811. He graduated from Brown University. After completing his studies, he worked in his father’s mercantile business. He was a Republican. In 1840, Dyer was elected Adjutant General of Rhode Island. He held that position for five years. He then served on the Providence School Committee for over a decade. He was the governor of Rhode Island from May 26, 1857 to May 31, 1859. During his administration, Dyer captained a company of Rhode Island volunteers for the Civil War. He was appointed Rhode Island’s commissioner to the International Exhibition at London in 1871. He also was President and Director of the Exchange Bank, Second Vice President of the Rhode Island Art Association, and a member of the United States Agricultural Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society. He was also an active member of the Freemasons. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/RI/masons.html] He died on May 17, 1890.

Dyer's son, Elisha Dyer, Jr., was Governor of Rhode Island from 1897-1900.

ources

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