Deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island (1620–1708)
John Greene Jr. (1620 – 27 November 1708) was a deputy governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations who spent almost his entire adult life in the public service of the colony.
Early life.
Greene was born in Salisbury, England, and baptized at St. Thomas' Church on 15 August 1620. He was the son of John Greene Sr. (1558–1659) and Joan (née Tattersall) Greene (1598–1643), and sailed to New England with his parents in 1635 aboard the ship "James". His father, after coming from Massachusetts to Providence, became one of the original settlers of Warwick. 
Career.
In 1652 Greene served in his first public role as a commissioner from Warwick, and served in some public capacity every year until 1690 when he was first chosen as deputy governor of the colony. From 1652 to 1663, he was Representative to the General Court (later known as the Supreme Court), Deputy in 1664, 1674, 1677, 1680, Assistant from 1660 to 1690, Warden for Warwick in 1658, General Recorder (precursor to Secretary of State) from 1652 to 1654, General Solicitor in 1655, and Attorney General from 1657 to 1660.
Greene served ten consecutive one-year terms in this capacity, retiring from public service in 1700 at the age of 80. He was one of the 10 Assistants named in the Royal Charter of 1663, which would become the basis for Rhode Island's government for nearly two centuries. During the devastating events of King Phillips War, Greene was one of 16 prominent inhabitants of the colony whose counsel was sought by the General Assembly.
Personal life.
In 1648 Greene was married to Ann Agnes Almy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Anne was the daughter of William Almy and Audry (née Barlow) Almy. Together, they had eleven children, including:
Greene died in Warwick on 27 November 1708.
Descendants.
Through his youngest son Samuel, he was a grandfather of William Greene Sr., who served for 11 one-year terms as a governor of the colony, and a great-grandfather of William Greene Jr., who was a governor of the State of Rhode Island.
Greene is also an ancestor of United States President Warren G. Harding, as well as inventor Thomas A. Edison, Canadian politician and religious leader Nathan Eldon Tanner, cowboy artist and inventor Earl W. Bascom and Hollywood actor John Wayne.
References.
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