Samuel P. Colt
Encyclopedia
Samuel Pomeroy Colt was an industrialist and politician from Rhode Island
.
He was born in Paterson
, New Jersey
on January 10, 1852, the youngest of six children born to Christopher Colt (brother to arms maker Samuel Colt
) and Theodora Goujand DeWolf Colt of Bristol, Rhode Island
. His friends and family called him "Pom".
In 1875, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Rhode Island Governor Henry Lippitt
, receiving the honorary rank of "colonel
". He would use this title for the remainder of his life.
In 1876 he graduated from Columbia Law School
and was elected to represent Bristol
in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
. He became involved in efforts to regulate child labor
and advance women's property rights. He left the legislature in 1879 to become Assistant Attorney General for Rhode Island, and in 1882 was elected Attorney General
for the state.
In 1881, Colt married Elizabeth Bullock, also of Bristol. The marriage produced three sons: Samuel Pomeroy, Jr. (1881–1890), Russell Griswold (1882–1959), and Roswell Christopher (1889–1935). Samuel and Elizabeth separated in 1896, and neither remarried. Russell Griswold Colt went on to marry actress Ethel Barrymore
.
In 1886, Colt founded the Industrial Trust Company, a financial organization
and served as its president until 1908. Later it became known as Industrial National Bank, and Fleet Bank
before being merged into Bank of America
.
In 1887 he was appointed as a receiver for the bankrupt National Rubber Company, based in Bristol. He reorganized the company and reopened it in 1888 as the National India Rubber Company. In 1892, he merged it with several other companies he had acquired to form the United States Rubber Company. It became the largest producer of rubber goods in the world. In 1901, he became president of the company, serving until 1918, when he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In 1903, he ran for Governor of Rhode Island as a Republican
, but failed to unseat the incumbent Lucius Garvin.
In 1905, believing that incumbent Republican Senator
George P. Wetmore
was not going to stand for reelection, Colt announced his candidacy. Wetmore eventually decided to run. The ensuing contest between Colt, Wetmore and Democrat
Robert Hale Ives Goddard
resulted in 81 deadlocked ballots cast by the General Assembly
over the course of four months in 1907 and a vacant seat in Rhode Island's delegation to the 60th Congress
. In the end, Colt stepped down, possibly due to ill-health, and Wetmore was reelected to belatedly join the 60th Congress in January 1908. LeBaron B. Colt
, Samuel P. Colt's older brother, would go on to win this seat in 1913.
Colt died August 13, 1921 of complications from a stroke
at the family home of Linden Place
in Bristol. A farm owned by Colt was later purchased by the state of Rhode Island, and transformed into Colt State Park
.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
He was born in Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
on January 10, 1852, the youngest of six children born to Christopher Colt (brother to arms maker Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt was an American inventor and industrialist. He was the founder of Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company , and is widely credited with popularizing the revolver. Colt's innovative contributions to the weapons industry have been described by arms historian James E...
) and Theodora Goujand DeWolf Colt of Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
. His friends and family called him "Pom".
In 1875, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Rhode Island Governor Henry Lippitt
Henry Lippitt
Henry Lippitt was the 33rd Governor of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877.-Family:Lippitt was the son of Warren Lippitt and Eliza Lippitt, married to Mary Ann Balch. He was the father of Charles Warren Lippitt, another Rhode Island Governor, and the father of Henry F. Lippitt, a U.S...
, receiving the honorary rank of "colonel
Colonel (title)
The honorary title of Colonel is conferred by some states in the United States of America and certain units of the Canadian Forces. The origins of the titular colonelcy can be traced back to colonial and antebellum times when men of the landed gentry were given the title for financing the local...
". He would use this title for the remainder of his life.
In 1876 he graduated from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
and was elected to represent Bristol
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
. He became involved in efforts to regulate child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
and advance women's property rights. He left the legislature in 1879 to become Assistant Attorney General for Rhode Island, and in 1882 was elected Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for the state.
In 1881, Colt married Elizabeth Bullock, also of Bristol. The marriage produced three sons: Samuel Pomeroy, Jr. (1881–1890), Russell Griswold (1882–1959), and Roswell Christopher (1889–1935). Samuel and Elizabeth separated in 1896, and neither remarried. Russell Griswold Colt went on to marry actress Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
.
In 1886, Colt founded the Industrial Trust Company, a financial organization
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
and served as its president until 1908. Later it became known as Industrial National Bank, and Fleet Bank
FleetBoston Financial
FleetBoston Financial was a Boston, Massachusetts–based bank created in 1999 by the merger of Fleet Financial Group and BankBoston. In 2004 it merged with Bank of America; all of its banks and branches were given the Bank of America logo.-History:...
before being merged into Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
.
In 1887 he was appointed as a receiver for the bankrupt National Rubber Company, based in Bristol. He reorganized the company and reopened it in 1888 as the National India Rubber Company. In 1892, he merged it with several other companies he had acquired to form the United States Rubber Company. It became the largest producer of rubber goods in the world. In 1901, he became president of the company, serving until 1918, when he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In 1903, he ran for Governor of Rhode Island as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, but failed to unseat the incumbent Lucius Garvin.
In 1905, believing that incumbent Republican Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
George P. Wetmore
George P. Wetmore
George Peabody Wetmore was the 37th Governor and a United States Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:George Peabody Wetmore was born in London, England, during a visit of his parents abroad. His father was William Shepard Wetmore, a wealthy Yankee trader. George Wetmore received his early...
was not going to stand for reelection, Colt announced his candidacy. Wetmore eventually decided to run. The ensuing contest between Colt, Wetmore and Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Robert Hale Ives Goddard
Robert Hale Ives Goddard
Robert Hale Ives Goddard was a prominent banker, industrialist, U.S. Army officer, state senator and philanthropist.-Biography:...
resulted in 81 deadlocked ballots cast by the General Assembly
Rhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 representatives, and the upper Rhode Island Senate with 38 senators...
over the course of four months in 1907 and a vacant seat in Rhode Island's delegation to the 60th Congress
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
. In the end, Colt stepped down, possibly due to ill-health, and Wetmore was reelected to belatedly join the 60th Congress in January 1908. LeBaron B. Colt
LeBaron B. Colt
LeBaron Bradford Colt was a United States Senator from Rhode Island and a circuit court judge.-Biography:He was born in Dedham, Massachusetts to Christopher Colt and Theodora Goujand DeWolf Colt; his younger brother, Samuel P. Colt, was a prominent Rhode Island businessman and politician...
, Samuel P. Colt's older brother, would go on to win this seat in 1913.
Colt died August 13, 1921 of complications from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
at the family home of Linden Place
Linden Place
Linden Place is a historic house museum in Bristol, Rhode Island that was home to the Colts and DeWolfs, two of the largest slave trading families in the United States.The house was built in 1810 by Russell Warren for the seafarer and general, George DeWolf...
in Bristol. A farm owned by Colt was later purchased by the state of Rhode Island, and transformed into Colt State Park
Colt State Park
Colt State Park occupies on Poppasquash Neck adjoining the town of Bristol, Rhode Island and includes trails, picnic groves, a public boat ramp, an observation tower and the open air Chapel by the Sea. The park lands were previously owned by Bristol industrialist Samuel P. Colt...
.
Further reading
- Hubbard, Elbert. Samuel Pomeroy Colt. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1425341713.
- Reprinted from Olympians: Elbert Hubbard's Selected Writings Part 2, by Elbert Hubbard. ISBN 0766103889, ISBN 0548001715.
- Originally published in Hubbard, Elbert. Volume 2 of Selected Writings of Elbert Hubbard: His Mintage of Wisdom, Coined from a Life of Love, Laughter and Work. [East Aurora, New York]: The Roycrofters, 1922, pp. 26–46.
- Morris, Andrew J. F. Restless Ambition: Samuel Pomeroy Colt and Turn-of-the-Century Rhode Island. 1991. . Honors thesis for Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.