| Election Name: | 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Rhode Island |
| Flag Year: | 1859 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1859 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1859 |
| Next Election: | 1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1861 |
| Election Date: | April 4, 1860 |
| Nominee1: | William Sprague IV |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Alliance1: | Conservative |
| Popular Vote1: | 12,278 |
| Percentage1: | 53.02% |
| Nominee2: | Seth Padelford |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 10,740 |
| Percentage2: | 46.38% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Thomas G. Turner |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | William Sprague IV |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on April 4, 1860.[1]
Incumbent Republican Governor Thomas G. Turner lost renomination to former member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Seth Padelford. Padelford lost the general election to Democratic and Conservative nominee William Sprague IV.
Nominations were made by party conventions.
The Republican convention was held on January 4 at Providence.[2]
The Democratic convention was held on February 16 at Providence.[4]
A convention of "conservative men of Rhode Island" was held on February 1 at Providence and nominated William Sprague.[7] Sprague declined that convention's nomination.[8]
A further convention was held on February 16 at Providence.[4] The convention was variously described as being made up of "conservatives",[9] [10] "third party men",[11] and "Young Men".[12]
Ballots were issued during the election describing the Democratic nominees variously as "Young Men's Convention Nominations", "Conservative Republican", "Democratic Convention Nominations", "Military Ticket", "Conservative Union Ticket", and "American Ticket".[13]