Arnold, Peleg, 1751-1820

Peleg Arnold (June 10, 1751–February 13, 1820) was a lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman from Smithfield, Rhode Island (now North Smithfield). He represented Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress in the 1787–1788 session. He later served as the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from June 1795 to June 1809, and from May 1810 to May 1812.

Born in Smithfield, Rhode Island (now North Smithfield), he attended the common schools and Brown University, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, practicing at Smithfield. He also opened and kept the Peleg Arnold Tavern. During the Revolutionary War he was the colonel of the 2nd regiment of the Providence County Militia. Arnold was first elected to Rhode Island's governing body, the General Assembly in 1777. He would serve again from May 1782 to 1783. He was appointed as a Rhode Island delegate to the Confederation Congress in 1787. A strong supporter of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, in 1788 he left the congress to return home and address the ratification of the United States Constitution. He served briefly as Deputy Governor of Rhode Island in 1790.

Arnold made two unsuccessful attempts to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives. In the election of 1794, he ran against the incumbent Benjamin Bourne as an Anti-Federalist (Country Party) candidate. When Bourne resigned in 1796, he ran in the special election to finish the incomplete term, this time as a member of the Republican Party, and lost to Elisha Reynolds Potter. In 1795 Arnold was named the Chief Justice of Rhode Island's Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Gaol Delivery. The name of this court was changed in 1798 to the simpler "The Supreme Judicial Court". The Assembly re-appointed him annually every year until June 1809. After a year off due to illness, they appointed him again from 1810 to 1812. Arnold served again in the General Assembly from 1817 to 1819.

Arnold died in Smithfield and was buried in Union Cemetery in Union Village, Rhode Island.