List of United States senators from Rhode Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Current delegation
Jack Reed (D)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D)

Rhode Island ratified the United States Constitution on May 29, 1790 and elects its U.S. senators to Class 1 and Class 2. The state's current U.S. senators are Democrats Jack Reed (since 1997) and Sheldon Whitehouse (since 2007). Claiborne Pell was Rhode Island's longest-serving senator (1961–1997).

List of senators[]

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.

C

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
Vacant May 29, 1790 –
June 7, 1790
Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution on May 29, 1790 but did not elect its U.S. senators until June 7, 1790. 1 1st 1 Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution on May 29, 1790 but did not elect its U.S. senators until June 7, 1790. May 29, 1790 –
June 7, 1790
Vacant
1 Senator Theodore Foster.jpg
Theodore Foster
Pro-
Admin.
June 7, 1790 –
March 3, 1803
Elected on June 7, 1790. Elected on June 7, 1790. June 7, 1790 –
March 3, 1793
Anti-Admin. Joseph Stanton Jr. 1
Re-elected in 1791. 2 2nd
3rd 2 Elected in 1793.

Resigned.
March 4, 1793 –
October 1797
Pro-Admin. William Bradford 2
Federalist 4th Federalist
Re-elected in 1797.

Retired.
3 5th
  October 1797 –
November 13, 1797
Vacant
Elected in 1797 to finish Bradford's term. November 13, 1797 –
March 5, 1801
Federalist Ray Greene.jpg
Ray Greene
3


6th 3 Re-elected November 1, 1798.

Resigned.
7th
  March 5, 1801 –
May 6, 1801
Vacant
Elected in 1801 to finish Greene's term.

Lost re-election.
May 6, 1801 –
March 3, 1805
Democratic-
Republican
Senator Christopher Ellery of Rhode Island.jpg
Christopher Ellery
4
2 Samuel J. Potter Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1803 –
October 14, 1804
Elected in 1802.

Died.
4 8th
Vacant October 14, 1804 –
October 29, 1804
 
3 Benjamin Howland Democratic-
Republican
October 29, 1804 –
March 3, 1809
Elected in 1804 to finish Potter's term.

Retired.
9th 4 Elected in 1804.

Resigned.
March 4, 1805 –
September 1807
Democratic-
Republican
GovJamesFenner.jpg
James Fenner
5
10th
  September 1807 –
October 26, 1807
Vacant
Elected to finish Fenner's term. October 26, 1807 –
March 3, 1811
Democratic-
Republican
Elisha Mathewson.jpg
Elisha Mathewson
6
4 Francis Malbone Federalist March 4, 1809 –
June 4, 1809
Elected November 5, 1808.[1]

Died.
5 11th
Vacant June 4, 1809 –
June 26, 1809
 
5 Christopher Grant Champlin.jpg
Christopher G. Champlin
Federalist June 26, 1809 –
October 12, 1811
Elected in 1809 to finish Malbone's term.

Resigned.
12th 5 Elected November 2, 1810.

Retired.
March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1817
Democratic-
Republican
Jeremiah Howell.jpg
Jeremiah B. Howell
7
Vacant October 12, 1811 –
October 28, 1811
 
6 Senator William Hunter.jpg
William Hunter
Federalist October 28, 1811 –
March 3, 1821
Elected in 1811 to finish Champlin's term.
13th
Re-elected in 1814. 6 14th
15th 6 Elected June 21, 1816.

Died.
March 4, 1817 –
December 25, 1820
Federalist James Burrill, Jr..jpg
James Burrill Jr.
8
16th
  December 25, 1820 –
January 9, 1821
Vacant
Elected in 1821 to finish Burrill's term. January 9, 1821 –
March 3, 1841
Democratic-
Republican
NRKnight.jpg
Nehemiah R. Knight
9
7 JDe Wolf.jpg
James DeWolf
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1821 –
October 31, 1825
Election date unknown.

Resigned.
7 17th
18th 7 Re-elected in 1823.
Anti-Jacksonian 19th Anti-Jacksonian
8 RI Senator Asher Robbins.jpg
Asher Robbins
Anti-Jacksonian October 31, 1825 –
March 3, 1839
Elected in 1825 to finish DeWolf's term.
Re-elected in 1827. 8 20th
21st 8 Re-elected in 1829.
22nd
Re-elected in 1833.

[data unknown/missing]
9 23rd
24th 9 Re-elected in 1835.

[data unknown/missing]
Whig 25th Whig
9 Nathan Fellows Dixon 1774 1842.jpg
Nathan F. Dixon I
Whig March 4, 1839 –
January 29, 1842
Election date unknown.

Died.
10 26th
27th 10 Elected in 1841.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1847
Whig James F. Simmons - Brady-Handy.jpg
James F. Simmons
10
Vacant January 29, 1842 –
February 18, 1842
 
10 William Sprague 1799 1856.jpg
William Sprague III
Whig February 18, 1842 –
January 17, 1844
Elected in 1842 to finish Dixon's term.

Resigned.
28th
Vacant January 17, 1844 –
January 25, 1844
 
11 RI Governor John Brown Francis.jpg
John B. Francis
Law and Order January 25, 1844 –
March 3, 1845
Elected in 1844 to finish Sprague's term.

Retired.
12 ACGreene.jpg
Albert C. Greene
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1851
Election date unknown.

Retired.
11 29th
30th 11 Election date unknown.

[data unknown/missing]
March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
Whig JHClarke.jpg
John Hopkins Clarke
11
31st
13 CTJames.jpg
Charles T. James
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1857
Election date unknown.

Retired.
12 32nd
33rd 12   March 4, 1853 –
July 20, 1853
Vacant
Elected late.

Retired.
July 20, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
Democratic Philip Allen (politician).jpg
Philip Allen
12
34th
14 James F. Simmons - Brady-Handy.jpg
James F. Simmons
Republican March 4, 1857 –
August 15, 1862
Elected in 1856.

Resigned.
13 35th
36th 13 Elected in 1858. March 4, 1859 –
September 2, 1884
Republican Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg
Henry B. Anthony
13
37th
Vacant August 15, 1862 –
December 1, 1862
 
15 SGArnold.jpg
Samuel G. Arnold
Republican December 1, 1862 –
March 3, 1863
Elected in 1862 to finish Simmons's term.

[data unknown/missing]
16 William Sprague 1830-1915 - Brady-Handy.jpg
William Sprague IV
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1862. 14 38th
39th 14 Re-elected in 1864.
40th
Re-elected in 1868.

Retired.
15 41st
42nd 15 Re-elected in 1870.
43rd
17 Ambrose Burnside - retouched.jpg
Ambrose Burnside
Republican March 4, 1875 –
September 13, 1881
Elected in 1874. 16 44th
45th 16 Re-elected in 1876.
46th
Re-elected in 1880.

Died.
17 47th
Vacant September 13, 1881 –
October 5, 1881
 
18 Nelson W. Aldrich.jpg
Nelson W. Aldrich
Republican October 5, 1881 –
March 3, 1911
Elected in 1881 to finish Burnside's term.
48th 17 Re-elected in 1882.

Died.
  September 2, 1884 –
November 19, 1884
Vacant
Appointed to continue Anthony's term. November 19, 1884 –
January 20, 1885
Republican Senator William Paine Sheffield.jpg
William P. Sheffield
14
Elected in 1885 to finish Anthony's term. January 20, 1885 –
April 9, 1889
Republican Jonathan Chace.jpg
Jonathan Chace
15
49th
Re-elected in 1886. 18 50th
51st 18 Re-elected in 1888.

Resigned.
Elected in 1889 to finish Chace's term.

Retired.
April 10, 1889 –
March 3, 1895
Republican Nathan Fellows Dixon III.jpg
Nathan F. Dixon, III
16
52nd
Re-elected in 1892. 19 53rd
54th 19 Elected in 1894. March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1907
Republican George Wetmore.jpg
George P. Wetmore
17
55th
Re-elected in 1898. 20 56th
57th 20 Re-elected in 1900.
58th
Re-elected January 18, 1905.[2]

Retired.
21 59th
60th 21 Legislature failed to elect. March 4, 1907 –
January 22, 1908
Vacant
Elected in 1908 to finish the vacant term.

Retired.
January 22, 1908–
March 3, 1913
Republican George Wetmore.jpg
George P. Wetmore
61st
19 Henry Frederick Lippitt, Senator from Rhode Island, File 03999a-crop.jpg
Henry F. Lippitt
Republican March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1917
.

Lost re-election.
22 62nd
63rd 22 Elected January 21, 1913. March 4, 1913 –
August 18, 1924
Republican LeBaron B Colt.jpg
LeBaron B. Colt
18
64th
20 US Senator Peter G. Gerry (1920).jpg
Peter G. Gerry
Democratic March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1929
Elected in 1916. 23 65th
66th 23 Re-elected in 1918.

Died.
67th
Re-elected in 1922.

Lost re-election.
24 68th
  August 18, 1924 –
November 4, 1924
Vacant
Elected November 4, 1924 to finish Colt's term. November 4, 1924 –
January 3, 1937
Republican JesseHMetcalf.jpg
Jesse H. Metcalf
19
69th 24 Elected in 1924.
70th
21 Felix Hebert.jpg
Felix Hebert
Republican March 4, 1929 –
January 3, 1935
Elected in 1928.

Lost re-election.
25 71st
72nd 25 Re-elected in 1930

Lost re-election.
73rd
22 PGerry.jpg
Peter G. Gerry
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1947
Elected in 1934. 26 74th
75th 26 Elected in 1936. January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1961
Democratic Theodore Francis GREEN.jpg
Theodore F. Green
20
76th
Re-elected in 1940.

Retired.
27 77th
78th 27 Re-elected in 1942.
79th
23 J. Howard McGrath (1948).jpg
J. Howard McGrath
Democratic January 3, 1947 –
August 23, 1949
Elected in 1946.

Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.
28 80th
81st 28 Re-elected in 1948.
24 Edward Leahy.jpg
Edward L. Leahy
Democratic August 24, 1949 –
December 10, 1950
Appointed to continue McGrath's term.

Retired.
Vacant December 10, 1950 –
December 19, 1950
 
25 John Pastore in 1961.jpg
John Pastore
Democratic December 19, 1950 –
December 28, 1976
Elected in 1950 to finish McGrath's term.
82nd
Re-elected in 1952. 29 83rd
84th 29 Re-elected in 1954.

Retired.
85th
Re-elected in 1958. 30 86th
87th 30 Elected in 1960. January 3, 1961 –
January 3, 1997
Democratic Claiborne Pell.jpg
Claiborne Pell
21
88th
Re-elected in 1964. 31 89th
90th 31 Re-elected in 1966.
91st
Re-elected in 1970.

Retired and resigned early
to give successor preferential seniority.
32 92nd
93rd 32 Re-elected in 1972.
94th
26 John Chafee.jpg
John Chafee
Republican December 29, 1976 –
October 24, 1999
Appointed to finish Pastore's term, having been elected to the next term.
Elected in 1976. 33 95th
96th 33 Re-elected in 1978.
97th
Re-elected in 1982. 34 98th
99th 34 Re-elected in 1984.
100th
Re-elected in 1988. 35 101st
102nd 35 Re-elected in 1990.

Retired.
103rd
Re-elected in 1994.

Died.
36 104th
105th 36 Elected in 1996. January 3, 1997 –
Present
Democratic Jack Reed, official photo portrait, 2008.jpg
Jack Reed
22
106th
Vacant October 24, 1999 –
November 2, 1999
 
27 Lincoln Chafee official portrait.jpg
Lincoln Chafee
Republican November 2, 1999 –
January 3, 2007
Appointed to finish his father's term.
Elected in 2000.

Lost re-election.
37 107th
108th 37 Re-elected in 2002.
109th
28 Senwhitehouse.jpg
Sheldon Whitehouse
Democratic January 3, 2007 –
Present
Elected in 2006. 38 110th
111th 38 Re-elected in 2008.
112th
Re-elected in 2012. 39 113th
114th 39 Re-elected in 2014.
115th
Re-elected in 2018. 40 116th
117th 40 Re-elected in 2020.
118th
To be determined in the 2024 election. 41 119th
120th 41 To be determined in the 2026 election.
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 1 Class 2

Living former senators[]

As of August 2021, there is one living former U.S. senator from Rhode Island. The most recent senator to die was Claiborne Pell (served 1961–1997) on January 1, 2009. The most recently serving senator to die was John Chafee (served 1976–1999), who died in office on October 24, 1999.

Senator Term of office Date of birth (and age)
Lincoln Chafee 1999–2007 (1953-03-26) March 26, 1953 (age 68)

Superlatives[]

Longest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Claiborne Pell January 3, 1961 January 3, 1997 36 years, 0 days
(13,149 days)
Nelson W. Aldrich October 5, 1881 March 3, 1911 29 years, 149 days
(10,740 days)
John Pastore December 19, 1950 December 28, 1976 26 years, 9 days
(9,506 days)
Henry B. Anthony March 4, 1859 September 2, 1884 25 years, 182 days
(9,314 days)
Jack Reed January 3, 1997 Present 24 years, 237 days
(9,003 days)

Shortest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
William Paine Sheffield Sr. November 19, 1884 January 20, 1885 2 months and 1 day
(62 days)
Francis Malbone March 4, 1809 June 4, 1809 3 months
(92 days)
Samuel G. Arnold December 1, 1862 March 3, 1863 3 months and 2 days
(92 days)
John Brown Francis January 25, 1844 March 3, 1845 1 year, 1 month and 6 days
(403 days)
Edward L. Leahy August 24, 1949 December 10, 1950 1 year, 3 months, 2 weeks and 2 days
(473 days)

Youngest at beginning of service[]

Senator Date of birth First served Age
William Sprague IV September 12, 1830 March 4, 1863 32 years, 5 months and 20 days
Christopher Ellery November 1, 1768 May 6, 1801 32 years, 6 months and 5 days
Ray Greene February 2, 1765 November 13, 1797 32 years, 9 months and 11 days
James Fenner January 22, 1771 March 4, 1805 34 years, 1 month and 10 days
William Hunter November 26, 1774 October 28, 1811 36 years, 11 months and 2 days

Oldest at end of service[]

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
Theodore F. Green October 2, 1867 January 3, 1961 93 years, 3 months and 1 day
LeBaron Bradford Colt June 25, 1846 August 18, 1924 78 years, 1 month and 24 days
Claiborne Pell November 22, 1918 January 3, 1997 78 years, 1 month and 12 days
Asher Robbins October 26, 1761 March 3, 1839 77 years, 4 months and 5 days
John Chafee October 22, 1922 October 24, 1999 77 years and 2 days

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Rhode Island 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 14, 1809.
  2. ^ The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1906. New York: The Press Publishing Co. New York World. 1905.

External links[]

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