Name Robert Beeckman Preceded by Aram J. Pothier Party Republican Party | Political party Republican Succeeded by Emery J. San Souci Profession Stockbroker Resigned January 4, 1921 | |
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Born April 15, 1866
New York City, New York ( 1866-04-15 ) Resting place Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York Spouse(s) Eleanor Thomas
Edna Marston Burke Role Former Governor of Rhode Island Died January 21, 1935, Santa Barbara, California, United States Previous office Governor of Rhode Island (1915–1921) Residence Newport, Rhode Island, United States | ||
Lieutenant Governor Emery J. San Souci | ||
Robert Livingston Beeckman (April 15, 1866 – January 21, 1935) was an American politician and the 52nd Governor of Rhode Island.
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Early life
Beeckman was born on April 15, 1866 in New York City, New York. His family ancestry can be traced back to Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam dating to 1654. His ancestors include Robert Livingston the Elder, Declaration signer Philip Livingston and "The Chancellor" Robert Livingston.
His family owned the financial firm Lapsley Beeckman & Co. When Beeckman was young, his family moved to Newport, Rhode Island. He left school at the age of sixteen to become a stockbroker.
Stockbroker
At the age of 16 Beeckman began his career at a stock brokerage firm in New York. At age 21, Beeckman became one of the youngest ever members of the New York Stock Exchange (from 1887–1906). By 1916, he retired from the brokerage business. After this time, he was a member of the board of directors of several corporations, including the Industrial Trust Company, the Newport Trust Company, the International Silver Company, and the Newport Casino.
Tennis player
Beeckman played in the finals of the 1886 United States National Tennis Championships in Newport. He lost to defending champion Richard Sears. The score was 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.
Politics
Beeckman's first political office was a Rhode Island state Representative in the General Assembly from Newport, from 1902 to 1912. He was a state Senator from 1912 to 1914. He was elected the governor of Rhode Island in 1914. He held the governor's office from January 5, 1915 to January 4, 1921.
During his administration, Beeckman pushed for reforms in State institutions including hospitals, prisons, and insane asylums, established an inheritance tax, and established a state Parole Board. He was the governor during the First World War. He visited Rhode Island troops on the battlefield in France and pushed for state appropriations to provide for dependent families of servicemen.
Beeckman also removed the property qualification for Rhode Island voters, introducing universal male suffrage in that state.
Beeckman stepped down from the governorship after three terms, then ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1922, losing to Peter G. Gerry.
Personal life
Beeckman was married first to Eleanor Thomas of Zanesville, Ohio in 1902. After her death he married Edna Marston Burke in 1920. He had no children. He was an active member of the Freemasons.
He died on January 21, 1935 at his winter home in Santa Barbara, California, of a heart attack. He was interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.