6. America’s smallest state had two governors at one time, with one of them charged with treason
In 1842 Thomas Dorr, the leader of a political faction known as the People’s Party which supported universal suffrage for white males, was elected governor under a new state constitution. The People’s Party claimed the election was legal and that Governor Dorr was the legitimate governor of the state. The problem was that Rhode Island already had a governor, Samuel Ward King, who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new constitution or of Governor Dorr. In electing Dorr, the people who participated in the election also elected a new legislature. Both governors issued statements defending their positions, and Governor King appealed to the federal government for assistance resolving the dispute.
Dorr went to Washington in person, but was unable to gain the support of President John Tyler and returned to Rhode Island. In his absence, martial law was imposed by King and a reward was offered for Dorr’s capture. After further maneuvering by both men, and with the number of Dorr’s supporters dwindling, he was arrested, charged with treason (against Rhode Island) and convicted and sentenced to solitary confinement at hard labor. The sentence was commuted after he served for one year and was released. In 1854 the legislature annulled his conviction for treason but the courts found the act to be unconstitutional. In the twenty-first century Thomas Dorr is included in the official list of governors as recognized by the State of Rhode Island, concurrent with Samuel Ward King.