Benedict Arnold (governor)

Benedict Arnold was president and then governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving for a total of 11 years in these roles. He was born and raised in the town of Ilchester, Somerset, England, likely attending school in Limington nearby. In 1635 at age 19, he accompanied his parents, siblings, and other family members on a voyage from England to New England where they first settled in Hingham in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In less than a year, they moved to Providence Plantation at the head of the Narragansett Bay at the request of Roger Williams. In about 1638, they moved once again about five miles (8 km) south to the Pawtuxet River, settling on the north side at a place commonly called Pawtuxet. Here they had serious disputes with their neighbors, particularly Samuel Gorton, and they put themselves and their lands under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, a situation which lasted for 16 years.

21 December 1615

Born on the same birth day (21 December): Anthony Powell • Betty Wright • Cécile DeWitt-Morette • Jamie Oleksiak • Jean Bouin • Käte Fenchel • Luis Arturo González López • Matthieu Chedid • Namık Kemal • Paloma Herrera • Petro Mohyla • Robert Worcester • Thomas Couture • Tom Sturridge • U. R. Ananthamurthy