| Election Name: | 1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Rhode Island |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1860 |
| Next Election: | 1862 Rhode Island gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1862 |
| Election Date: | 3 April 1861 |
| Nominee1: | William Sprague IV |
| Party1: | National Union Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 11,844 |
| Percentage1: | 53.69% |
| Nominee2: | James Y. Smith |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 10,200 |
| Percentage2: | 46.23% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | William Sprague IV |
| Before Party: | Union |
| After Election: | William Sprague IV |
| After Party: | Union |
The 1861 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held April 3, 1861 to elect the governor of Rhode Island. William Sprague IV, the incumbent governor, was reelected, defeating his Republican rival, Mayor James Y. Smith of Providence.[1] Sprague was nominated by Rhode Island's Union Party, a coalition of Democrats, conservative Republicans, and ex-Whigs that had supported him in 1860.[2] [3]
On election day, 3 April 1861, incumbent Governor William Sprague IV won re-election by a margin of 1,644 votes against his opponent Republican nominee James Y. Smith, thereby retaining Unionist control over the office of Governor. Sprague was sworn in for his second term on 5 May 1861.[4]