Page "Stephen Hopkins (politician)" Paragraph 1

As a child Stephen Hopkins was a voracious reader, becoming a serious student of the sciences, mathematics, and literature.

He became a surveyor and astronomer, and was involved in taking measurements during the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun.

Hopkins began his public service at the early age of 23 as a justice of the peace in the newly established town of Scituate, Rhode Island.

He soon became a justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, while also serving at times as the Speaker of the House of Deputies and President of the Scituate Town Council.

While active in civic affairs, he also was part owner of an iron foundry and was a successful merchant who was portrayed in John Greenwood's 1750s satirical painting, Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam.

In May 1747 Hopkins was appointed as a justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and in 1751 became the third Chief Justice of this body.

In 1755 he was elected to his first term as governor of the colony, and served a total of nine of the next 15 years in this capacity.

One of the most contentious political issues of his day was the use of paper money versus hard currency.

His bitter political rival, Samuel Ward championed hard currency, whereas Hopkins advocated the use of paper money.

The rivalry between the two men became so heated, that Hopkins sued Ward for £ 40, 000, but lost the case and had to pay costs.

By the mid-1760s the contention between the two men became a serious distraction to the government of the colony, and realizing this they attempted to placate each other, but initially without success.

Ultimately, in 1768, both agreed to not run for office, and Josias Lyndon was elected governor of the colony as a compromise candidate.