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'''Stephen Hopkins''' (b. March 7, 1707; d. July 13, 1785) is a Founding Father of [[America]]. He was a farmer, a land surveyor, a lawyer. He was elected town clerk, a justice of the peace, a representative to the general assembly, a chief justice of the common pleas court. Hopkins had a profitable career as a merchant and as a ship builder. Hopkins became a Speaker of the Rhode Island Assembly, a delegate to the Albany Convention, and was elected Governor of the colony. Stephen Hopkins was elected to represent [[Rhode Island]] in the [[Continental Congress]] and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Also, he was member of Rhode Island Legislature and a founder of the Providence town library. Hopkins was one of the earliest and most vigorous champions of colonial rights.

'''Stephen Hopkins''' (March 7, 1707 – July 13, 1785) is a Founding Father of [[America]]. He was a farmer, a land surveyor, a lawyer. He was elected town clerk, a justice of the peace, a representative to the general assembly, a chief justice of the common pleas court. Hopkins had a profitable career as a merchant and as a ship builder. Hopkins became a Speaker of the Rhode Island Assembly, a delegate to the Albany Convention, and was elected Governor of the colony. Stephen Hopkins was elected to represent [[Rhode Island]] in the [[Continental Congress]] and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Also, he was member of Rhode Island Legislature and a founder of the Providence town library. Hopkins was one of the earliest and most vigorous champions of colonial rights.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Stephen Hopkins was born in Scituate, Rhode Island. He was self taught and had little formal education. <ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/HOPKINS.htm Stephen Hopkins, USHistory.org]</ref> Hopkins was a farmer that inherited his father's estate. In 1742, he sold his father's farm and moved to Providence. He married at the age of nineteen to Sarah Scott and fathered seven children. Hopkins purchased a store and became a wealthy merchant.

Stephen Hopkins was born in Scituate, Rhode Island. He was self taught and had little formal education.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/HOPKINS.htm Stephen Hopkins, USHistory.org]</ref> Hopkins was a farmer that inherited his father's estate. In 1742, he sold his father's farm and moved to Providence. He married at the age of nineteen to Sarah Scott and fathered seven children. Hopkins purchased a store and became a wealthy merchant.

==Politics==

==Politics==

Hopkins became a representative from Providence to the provincial assembly becoming Speaker. He would be reelected fourteen times, then appointed chief justice of the superior court. In 1754, he was a delegate from Rhode Island to the convention that met at Albany. His task would be to developing a plan uniting the colonies and arranging an alliance with the Indians. In 1756, Hopkins was elected governor of the colony and he held that office until 1764. In 1772, Hopkins was again elected to the general assembly and sponsored a bill that prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony. In August 1774, was elected with [[Samuel Ward]] to represent Rhode Island in the Continental Congress. In Congress he would tell a colleague, <ref>[http://virtualology.com/stephenhopkins.net/ Stephen Hopkins, Virtuology.com]</ref>

Hopkins became a representative from Providence to the provincial assembly becoming Speaker. He would be reelected fourteen times, then appointed chief justice of the superior court. In 1754, he was a delegate from Rhode Island to the convention that met at Albany. His task would be to developing a plan uniting the colonies and arranging an alliance with the Indians. In 1756, Hopkins was elected governor of the colony and he held that office until 1764. In 1772, Hopkins was again elected to the general assembly and sponsored a bill that prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony. In August 1774, was elected with [[Samuel Ward]] to represent Rhode Island in the Continental Congress. In Congress he would tell a colleague,<ref>[http://virtualology.com/stephenhopkins.net/ Stephen Hopkins, Virtuology.com]</ref>

{{cquote| The liberties of America would be a cheap purchase with the loss of but 100,000 lives.}}

{{cquote| The liberties of America would be a cheap purchase with the loss of but 100,000 lives.}}

==Writings==

==Writings==

* "The Grievances of the American Colonies Candidly Examined," published in London 1766.  

* "The Grievances of the American Colonies Candidly Examined," published in London 1766.  

* "History of the Planting and Growth of Providence," which appeared in the Providence "Gazette" in 1765. <ref>[http://famousamericans.net/stephenhopkins/ Stephen Hopkins, famousamericans.net]</ref>

* "History of the Planting and Growth of Providence," which appeared in the Providence "Gazette" in 1765.<ref>[http://famousamericans.net/stephenhopkins/ Stephen Hopkins, famousamericans.net]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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{{reflist|2}}

{{Template:Declaration of Independence}}

{{Declaration of Independence}}

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[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]