WILLIAM WARNER HOPPIN was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed both his undergraduate and law studies at Yale University and was admitted to the Bar in 1830, after which he began practicing law in Providence. Before becoming governor, he served for four years on the Providence City Council, for five years on the Providence Board of Aldermen, and for one year in the Rhode Island Senate before becoming governor. During his three gubernatorial terms, Hoppin advocated economic and political reform. He declined renomination to a fourth term, instead returning to the practice of law. He went on to serve as a Rhode Island delegate to the Washington Peace Conference in 1861 and returned to the Rhode Island Senate in 1866. He was Registrar in Bankruptcy from 1867 to 1872 and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1875. Hoppin was also treasurer of the Providence and Fishkill Railroad and President of the Providence Dyeing, Bleaching and Callendering Company.