Known for

• 28th, 30th, 32nd, and 34th Governor of Rhode Island

• Chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court

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During 1776

• Delegate for Rhode Island

• Age: 70

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Background

• Born: 1707 in Providence, Rhode Island

  • From a prominent Rhode Island family

• Spouse: Sarah Scott (m. 1726, d. 1753); Anne Smith

• ​Children: None

• Slaveowning

  • ​Mentioned five slaves in his 1760 will consisting of a man, woman, and three boys

    • ​The will was never proved because Hopkins lived another 25 years, and circumstances changed its provisions.

  • October 28, 1772: Hopkins freed the man (Saint Jago), writing:

    • "But, principally, and most of all finding that the merciful and beneficent goodness of Almighty God; by the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord: hath by the blessed Spirit taught all, who honestly obey its Divine Dictates, that, the keeping any of his rational Creatures in Bondage, who are capable of taking care of, and providing for themselves in a State of Freedom: is, altogather inconsistent with his Holy and Righteous Will."

  • ​However, he also thought that unconditional freedom for some slaves would be irresponsible on his part.

    • Refused to free his woman slave Fibbo, even though it cost him his membership in the Quaker meeting.

    • His rationale: "she had Children that needed the Immediate Care of a Mother."

  • Hopkins's remaining slaves were not freed until after his death, but at least two of them (Primus and Bonner Jr.) had been living semi-independently for several years before his death.​

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Personal beliefs

• Politics: Patriot/Whig

  • Had worsening palsy in his hands; signed the Declaration by holding his right hand with his left and saying, "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."

• Religion: Quaker

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Personality

John Adams: "Governor Hopkins of Rhode Island, above seventy Years of Age kept us all alive. Upon Business his Experience and judgment were very Useful. But when the Business of the Evening was over, he kept Us in Conversation till Eleven and sometimes twelve O Clock. His Custom was to drink nothing all day nor till Eight O Clock, in the Evening, and then his Beveredge was Jamaica Spirit and Water. It gave him Wit, Humour, Anecdotes, Science and Learning. He had read Greek, Roman and British History: and was familiar with English Poetry particularly Pope, Tompson and Milton. And the flow of his Soul made all his reading our own, and seemed to bring to recollection in all of Us all We had ever read. I could neither eat nor drink in those days. The other Gentlemen were very temperate. Hopkins never drank to excess, but all he drank was immediately not only converted into Wit, Sense, Knowledge and good humour, but inspired Us all with similar qualities."