Thomas Arnold Hazard Papers (Mss. Gr. 8)

Biographical note

Thomas Arnold Hazard was born in Jamestown, Rhode Island on September 30, 1813,the son of Arnold and Hannah (Watson) Hazard. He studied medicine under Dr. William Turner of Newport and established his own practice in South Kingstown in the mid-1830's. Hazard was appointed town physician in 1838 served in that capacity for a period of 21 years. In addition to a lucrative medical practice, Hazard was active in local government and politics. He served as a member of the committee to examine school teachers, as a member of the school committee and, from 1858 to 1883, he occupied the post of town treasurer. He also served as a trustee of the Sewall Fund, the Kingstown school fund, and on the board of directors of the Kingstown Bank. In 1861, he was a candidate for State Senator on the American Party ticket. The Democratic Party attempted on several occasions to nominate him for the state legislature, but he refused. Hazard continued to practice medicine in the area of South Kingstown until the 1880's. He died on December 8, 1886.