Aram J. Pothier, Governor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aram_J._Pothier

Aram Jules Pothier (July 26, 1854 – February 4, 1928) was an American politician of French Canadian origin, the 51st and 55th Governor of Rhode Island from 1909 to 1915 and from 1925 until his death in 1928.

Early life

He was born in Philimene, Quebec, Canada, as the son of Jules Pothier and Domiltilde (Dallaire) Pothier. He graduated from Nicolet College in Quebec. At the time of graduation, his parents had already moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and he moved there too. He worked for a number of companies, starting with the Woonsocket Institute for Savings. He married Françoise de Charmigny in 1902. He is a descendant of Zacharie Cloutier.

Political career

Pothier was a Republican and member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1887 to 1888. He served as the mayor of Woonsocket from 1894 to 1895 and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1897 to 1898, during the first year that Elisha Dyer, Jr. was governor. After his term as lieutenant governor, he retired from public office, but returned as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Education in 1907.

Governor

He won the election to become governor in 1908 and entered into service on January 5, 1909. He was reelected to three more one year terms as governor. At this time, biennial elections replaced annual elections for state officials, and Pothier won the very first election for a two year term as governor in 1912. He retired after this term, on January 5, 1915, when he was succeeded by fellow Republican Robert Livingston Beeckman.

In 1915, retiring from politics, he became President of the Woonsocket Institute for Savings and the Providence Union Trust Company.

Pothier was again drafted by the Republican Party to run for governor in 1924. He won that election and then the reelection in 1926, and served from January 6, 1925 until his death February 4, 1928.

He was notable for being the first Rhode Island governor of French-Canadian descent. He was buried at Precious Blood Cemetery in Woonsocket.