The Economic History of Newport Rhode Island

About the Book

Thanks to the efforts of Roger Williams and the Rev. John Clarke Rhode Island was the first secular state of its time. There was religious freedom and no effective control by Britain over the colony. In this environment a free running economy developed based on international trading. During the time before the Revolution Newport was one of the biggest ports on the eastern seaboard. The British shut the port down for three years during the Revolution but the town recovered thanks to the French who arrived in 1780 with money. The economy recovered but Newport was again depressed during the War of 1812. There was an industrial revolution in Rhode Island in the 19th century that started with Slater Mill which put the Providence based merchants in a position to compete effectively with the Newport merchants. Newport shifted to a tourist and manufacturing economy.

About the Author

I have lived in Rhode Island all my life. Born in Woonsocket and then after graduating from Northeastern University in 1961 moved to Newport and its environs. Graduated from the Naval War College and earned a master’s degree (MSOE) from URI in 1982. After retiring in 2002 from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center after a successful 43 year career, I became president of K+M Engineering Ltd. In 2013 I graduated from Salve Regina University with a PhD. I’ve always had an interest in history. I published articles in 1976 and 1982 about the Revolutionary War forts and events of the Revolution. In 1977 I helped found and became the first president of the Middletown Historical Society. I am currently a director of the society and head of research. My dissertation was a two year, detailed analysis, of Newport’s economic development. I’ve always liked a good puzzle or mystery where the clues are there to follow. The dissertation provided both. A review of the literature provided few facts and limited analysis. My engineering background provided the analytical training and my interest in discovering history provided motivation. At this point in my life, I am a father, grandfather, uncle and grand uncle with a beautiful and loving wife. I have an engineering company (K+M Engineering Ltd) where I can do engineering research and have the time to do historic research projects of this type that produced the book. I live in Middletown, which was part of Newport until a tax rebellion in 1743. My property abuts the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Peckham’s Quary. I have deer, turkeys, and birds of all kinds in my back yard. It doesn’t get better than this.