Alexander Hamilton Rice | |
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32nd Governor of Massachusetts | |
In office January 6, 1876 – January 2, 1879 | |
Lieutenant | Horatio G. Knight |
Preceded by | William Gaston |
Succeeded by | Thomas Talbot |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
In office March 4, 1859 – March 4, 1867 | |
Preceded by | Linus B. Comins |
Succeeded by | Ginery Twichell |
Constituency | 4th district (1859–1863) 3rd district (1863–1867) |
Mayor of Boston | |
In office 1856–1858 | |
Preceded by | Jerome V.C. Smith |
Succeeded by | Frederic W. Lincoln Jr. |
President of the Boston School Committee | |
In office 1854 | |
President of the Boston Common Council | |
In office 1854 | |
Preceded by | Henry Gardner |
Succeeded by | Joseph Story |
Member of the Boston Common Council from Ward 11 | |
In office 1853–1854 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Newton, Massachusetts | August 30, 1818
Died | July 22, 1895 Melrose, Massachusetts | (aged 76)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Augusta E. McKim (d. 1868) Angle Erickson Powell |
Signature | ![]() |
Alexander Hamilton Rice (August 30, 1818 – July 22, 1895) was an American politician and businessman from Massachusetts. He served as Mayor of Boston from 1856 to 1857, a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War, and as the 30th Governor of Massachusetts from 1876 to 1879. He was part owner and president of Rice-Kendall, one of the nation's largest paper products distributors.
Educated at Union College, Rice was for many years involved in the paper business, and entered Boston politics in 1853. As mayor, he helped broker an agreement that began development of its Back Bay area. His Congressional service included the introduction of the failed Crittenden Compromise, oversight of naval affairs during the Civil War, and resistance to Radical Republican actions. As governor, he promoted social reform legislation and reductions in working hours.