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Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with 85,808 people. Its mayor, since 2000, has been Scott Avedisian. Founded by Samuel Gorton in 1642, Warwick has witnessed major events in American history. Warwick was decimated during King Philip's War (1675-76) and was the site of the first shot fired during the American Revolution against the British schooner Gaspée. Warwick is also the home of revolutionary war general Nathanael Greene, George Washington's second-in-command, and the Civil War hero of the battle of Gettysburg, General George S. Greene. Warwick is home to Rhode Island's main airport, T. F. Green Airport, which serves the greater Providence area and also functions as a reliever for Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. The airport is a source of growing debate as it continues to encroach on the residential community, destroying the habitability of housing stock that is home to around 8% of the state's population. Early history
Warwick was founded in 1642 by Samuel Gorton when Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem Miantonomi agreed to accept 144 fathoms of Wampumpeague for what was known as "The Shawhomett Purchase". This included the present day towns of Coventry and West Warwick. However, the purchase was not without dispute. The two sachems of the area, Sacononoco and Pumham, stated that Miantonomi had sold the land without asking for their approval. The two sachems took their case to Boston, where they placed their lands under Massachusetts rule. In 1643 Massachusetts sent a militia force to Shawomett to arresst Gorton and his followers. After a tense standoff, all but 3 of the Gortonists surrendered to the Massachusetts force. This event caused the other three towns on Narragansett Bay (Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport) to unite and get a royal charter allowing the towns on Narragansett Bay to form the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. In 1648, Gorton was granted a Charter by Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick. Because of this, the name of the settlement was changed from Shawomett to Warwick. While Massachusetts contiuned to lay claim to the area, though it made no effort to enforce it. In 1772, Warwick was the scene for the first violent act against the Crown when, in what was to be called the Gaspée Affair, local patriots boarded the British HMS Gaspée, a revenue cutter charged with enforcing the Stamp Act 1765 and Townshend Acts in an area where smuggling was common, the Narragansett Bay. It was here that the first blood of the American Revolution was spilled when the commanding officer of the Gaspée, Lt. Duddingston, was shot in his crotch while resisting the taking of his ship. The Gaspée was stripped of all cannon and arms before being torched. During the Revolution, Warwick Militiamen participated in the battles of Montreal, Quebec, Saratoga, Monmouth, Trenton, Rhode Island, and were present for the surrender at Yorktown. Research Tips
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