Royal Chapin Taft Sr. (February 14, 1823 – June 4, 1912) was a US politician and businessman, whose served as the 39th Governor of Rhode Island from 1888 to 1889.

Taft was born in Northbridge, Massachusetts, on February 14, 1823, and was educated at Worcester Academy.

[3] He belonged to the Republican Party, and was an elected member of Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1880 to 1884 before his term as governor.

In 1890 he became a charter member of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

[5][2] At the time of his death, he was the oldest living ex-governor of Rhode Island.