Description
Elisha Dyer Junior’s life, career, and accomplishments are directly tied to the state of Rhode Island. Born, raised, and educated in Providence, Elisha Dyer studied chemistry at Brown University. The son of the 24th Governor of Rhode Island — Elisha Dyer Sr. – Dyer’s career began first not in politics, but in the military. Upon completion of his studies, Dyer enlisted in the First Light Infantry, a unit of the Rhode Island Militia, and was appointed by his father in 1858 to serve as a colonel and aide-de-camp on the Governor’s military staff. A Union veteran through service in the 1st Light Artillery Battery of Rhode Island, he then joined the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery in 1861 and rose quickly through leadership ranks to major. He then served as military aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel to Governor James Y. Smith from 1863 to 1866. He continued to serve in in the Rhode Island military in various senior roles until retirement in 1895.
Dyer entered state politics starting with his election to the Rhode Island Senate in 1877. He served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and as Adjutant General of Rhode Island from 1882 to 1895. A multi-term Republican Governor of Rhode Island from 1897 to 1900, Dyer finished his career serving again as Senator in 1904, and then as Mayor of his hometown of Providence, until his death in 1906.
Dyer’s patriotic sense of duty and devotion to the state of Rhode Island stemmed in part from deep familial ties to the early colonial era and a career of military service during the nation’s darkest hours of the Civil War. He held first class membership in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, organized in the aftermath of President Lincoln’s assassination in honor of Union service members who fought for the indivisibility of the Republic. He also belonged to three patriotic organizations whose members are descendants of American Revolutionary War veterans. As a descendant of Captain William Jones — a Revolutionary War veteran — Dyer was a hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati. He was also a charter member of the Rhode Island Society of Colonial Wars and later a member and president of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual light wear from usage, some oxidation of silver parts.
References:
“Elisha Dyer Jr.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Dyer_Jr. (14 November 2014).
“List of governors of Rhode Island.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_governors_of_Rhode_Island (14 November 2024).
