The attorney general of Rhode Island is the chief legal advisor of the government of the State of Rhode Island and oversees the State of Rhode Island Department of Law.

[1] In 1643, Roger Williams obtained a patent (charter) from the English Parliament.

The towns of Providence and Warwick elected a Chief Officer under the authority of this Parliamentary Patent of 1643.

In 1647, the towns of Newport, Portsmouth, Providence, and Warwick formed a united colony under the Parliamentary Patent.

In May 1650, the offices of "Attorney General for the Colonie" and "Solicitor" were created.