Herbert Warren Ladd (October 15, 1843 – November 29, 1913) was the 40th and 42nd Governor of Rhode Island for two terms: 1889–90 and 1891–92.

During the Civil War he became a reporter for the New Bedford Mercury newspaper, covering several Massachusetts regiments.

At war's end, he returned to the dry goods business, first in Boston, then in Rhode Island.

[2] On May 25, 1870,[3] Ladd married Emma Burrows of Providence; she died in 1889,[4] just as her husband began his term as governor.

Under the rules of the time, if no candidate received an outright majority, the result was decided by the General Assembly.

In fact, Davis received more votes than Ladd three times, in 1889, 1890, and 1891, without winning a majority in any of the three races.

[8] It was reported that Ladd paid a "considerable amount of money" out of his own pocket to help pay for the construction when the state was low on funds, and was never reimbursed for the monies.

[12] In 1889, at the 121st Commencement of Brown University, Ladd announced that he would donate an astronomical observatory to the school.