The 2 Signers of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island

Stephen Hopkins

Born: Providence, RI

Age when signing: 69 years old

Religious Belief: Quaker

Occupation: Merchant

Achievements:

Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Chief Justice of Rhode Island Supreme Court

Co-Founder and First Chancellor of Rhode Island College (Brown University)

Sacrifices made during the Revolution

Hopkins authored the 1764 pamphlet "The Rights of the Colonies Examined," which boldly criticized British taxation without representation. He used his personal fortune and mercantile influence to outfit ships and run an iron foundry that supplied cannons and pig iron to the Continental Army.

 .

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0bee74_ccc881e79a524b07af7f56947f87455c/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery

Born: Newport, RI

Age when signing: 48 years old

Religious Belief: Episcopalian

Occupation: Merchant, Lawyer,

Achievements:

Co-Founder of Rhode Island College (Brown University)

President of Yale University Chief Justice of Rhode Island Supreme Court

Sacrifices made during the Revolution

When the British captured Newport in 1778, they sought out Ellery’s home and burned it to the ground.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0bee74_7627b72c63544290a515a3e9ba8a3c36/720p/mp4/file.mp4

William Ellery