DORR, OAIAS WILSON ( 1805-54). An American politician, famous as the leader of `Dorr's Rebellion' in Rhode Island. Ile was born ii. Providence, R. 1.; graduated at Harvard in 1823: studied law and was admitted to the bar; was a member of the State Assembly from 1833 to 1837, and soon became identified with the movement for an extension of the right of suffrage in the State. At that time Rhode Island's government was still based on the charter issued by Charles II. in 1663, and, by an act of 1798. the suffrage had been granted only to those who had a freehold valued at $134, or bringing an annual rental of $7. The appor tionment of representatives, moreover, was un fairly made. Providence and Portsmouth, for instance, having the same !mintier. though in 1840 the population of the former was twenty times as great as that of the latter. In 1810 a suffrage party was organized to effect the needed reforms. k constitutional convention, called by this patty. met in I fetober, and framed a constitution which, in December, was accepted a large majority of the people. Aleanwhile anotlicr constitutional comention. called by the Legislature, also adopted a constitution (iu I, assay. Ist2). which, though liberal in char acter. was promptly rejected at the polls. In April the 'Suffragists' elected Dorr governor, while the opposing party. or 'Landholders,' chose
:saltine' 11. King, both of whom were formally inaugurated. Excitement on both sides soon ran high; and, in answer to a 'Suffragist' attempt to seize the arsenal at Providence, Governor !tang, on May Is, proclaimed martial law. 1)or• made an effort to secure the support of the Federal authorities at Washington, but failed, and returned to Eliode Island, where his sup port soon collapsed. Ile then tied to C'ouneeticut, but again returned. and was arrested, convicted of high treason, and, in June, IS14, sentenced to imprisonment for life. In 1S47. however, lie was released. Though the methods of DI irr were revolutionary and linWise, they served to at tract general attention to the archaic and in equitable of the State Constitution, and led to the adoption in November, 1842, of the present Constitution. By its provisions, and by amendments passed in 1S88 and 1893. the suffrage has. at last. been Made virtually uni versal. Consult: King. The Life and Times of Thomas 11'. D9/./- (Boston. 1859) ; and a paper, Constitutional Controversy in Rhode Isl and in IS41," in the Report of the Ann rican His torical .IssociatiOn for Washington. I ti95 ) .