The Biographical Dictionary of America/Arnold, Benedict (governor of Rhode Island)

ARNOLD, Benedict, governor of Rhode Island, was born in England, Dec. 21, 1615. He came to America and settled in Providence some time previous to 1636. In 1637 was one of the original thirteen heads of families who signed the agreement for majority rule. He made a study of the Indian languages, which enabled him to conduct negotiations with the savages, and in 1645 he was appointed as emissary for that purpose. In 1654 he was made assistant for Newport, to which town he had removed the previous year, and in 1657 he purchased with Coddington the island of Quondnoquat, afterwards Jamestown. In that same year he was elected president of Rhode Island, to succeed Roger Williams, who had resigned. In 1660 he was made assistant, and in 1662 was re-elected to the presidency. The following year the royal charter was issued, under which he was made first governor of Rhode Island, and to this office he was four times re-elected. His efforts secured the re-establishment of friendly relations and final union between Rhode Island and her sister colony, the Providence plantations. He died June 20, 1678.