Incumbent WhigGovernorHenry B. Anthony declined to seek re-election to a third term, so his party instead nominated Josiah Chapin in order to keep the office of Governor under Whig control. Meanwhile Free Soil candidate Edward Harris was nominated for a third consecutive time after his election losses during the 1849 and 1850 Rhode Island gubernatorial election. On election day, 2 April 1851, democratic nominee Philip Allen won the election by a margin of 829 votes against his foremost opponent Josiah Chapin. Allen was sworn in as the 22nd Governor of Rhode Island on 6 May 1851.[2]