1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on April 4, 1860.

Incumbent Republican Governor Thomas G. Turner lost renomination to former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Seth Padelford. Padelford lost the general election to Democratic and Conservative nominee William Sprague IV.

Nominations
Nominations were made by party conventions.

Republican nomination
The Republican convention was held on January 4 at Providence.

Candidates

 * Samuel G. Arnold, former Lieutenant Governor
 * Seth Padelford, former member of the Providence Common Council, former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
 * Thomas G. Turner, incumbent Governor

Democratic nomination
The Democratic convention was held on February 16 at Providence.

Candidate

 * William Sprague IV, manufacturer

Conservative nomination
A convention of "conservative men of Rhode Island" was held on February 1 at Providence and nominated William Sprague. Sprague declined that convention's nomination.

A further convention was held on February 16 at Providence. The convention was variously described as being made up of "conservatives", "third party men", and "Young Men".

Candidate

 * William Sprague IV, manufacturer

Candidates

 * Seth Padelford, Republican
 * William Sprague IV, Democratic, Conservative

Ballots were issued during the election describing the Democratic nominees variously as "Young Men's Convention Nominations", "Conservative Republican", "Democratic Convention Nominations", "Military Ticket", "Conservative Union Ticket", and "American Ticket".