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WANTON, Joseph, governor of Rhode Island, born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1705; died there, 19 July, 1780. His father, William (1680-1737), was governor of Rhode Island in 1732-'4. The son was graduated at Harvard in 1751, acquired wealth as a merchant, and in 1769 was elected governor. In June, 1775, the assembly of Rhode Island deprived Governor Wanton of all power, in consequence of his opposition to the will of that body and his supposed sympathy with the royalists, and from that period Deputy-Governor Nicholas Cooke acted as the executive authority. Among the chief causes that induced the people to regard Governor Wanton with suspicion was, doubtless, his acceptance, in 1773, of all appointment, under the great seal of England, to inquire into the burning of the king's ship, the "Gaspee," by the Whigs. While Newport was occupied by the British he was superintendent of the troops, and at the evacuation he followed the royal army to New York. He was a man of amiable disposition, elegant manners, and handsome person.
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