RICE, Alexander Hamilton, governor of Massachusetts, born in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, 30 August, 1818. He received a business training in his father's paper-mill at Newton and in a mercantile house in Boston, and, after his graduation at Union college in 1844, established himself in the paper business at Boston. He became a member of the school committee, entered the common council, was chosen president of that body, and in 1855 and 1857 was elected mayor of Boston on a citizens' ticket. During his administration the Back Bay improvements were undertaken, the establishment of the Boston city hospital was authorized, and on his recommendation the management of the public institutions was committed to a board composed in part of members of the common council and in part chosen from the general body of citizens. He served several years as president of the Boston board of trade, and has been an officer or trustee of numerous financial and educational institutions. He was elected to congress by the Republican party for four successive terms, serving from 5 December, 1859, till 3 March, 1867. He served on the committee on naval affairs, and, as chairman of that committee in the 38th congress introduced important measures, tie was a delegate to the Loyalists' convention at Philadelphia in 1866, and to the Republican national convention in 1868. He was governor of Massachusetts in 1876, 1877, and 1878.