Henry Tillinghast Sisson

Henry Tillinghast Sisson (August 20, 1831 – October 19, 1910) was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877 serving under Governor Henry Lippitt, and inventor of the three-ring binder.

He was a lifelong resident of Little Compton, Rhode Island and inherited a stone mansion at Sakonnet Point. The mansion was originally built by his father for use as a hotel and recently has been known as the Stone House Inn.

Sisson was commissioned as a lieutenant and paymaster for the 1st Rhode Island Detached Milita (aka. 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiment) in May 1861 and served until the regiment was mustered out in August 1861. He participated in the Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1961.

In April 1862 he was commissioned as major of the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery and commanded three companies (B, F and K) of that regiment at the Battle of Secessionville, South Carolina.

On November 5, 1862 he was promoted to colonel and given command of the 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.

He was elected as a Republican to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1874 and served from 1875 until 1877.

He died at his mansion in Little Compton on October 19, 1910. He was buried in a new plot across the street from the historic Commons Cemetery in Little Compton, Rhode Island where a life size statue marks his grave.

References

• "Henry Tillinghast Sisson". Retrieved 2008-05-05.
• "Henry T. Sisson". Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
• US patent 23506, H.T. Sisson, "Temporary Binder", issued 1859-04-05 
• "Henry Tillinghast Sisson's Civil War Pages".