Arnold, Peleg, 1751-1820

ARNOLD, Peleg, a Delegate from Rhode Island; born in Smithfield, R.I., June 10, 1751; attended the common schools and Brown University, Providence, R.I.; studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced; elected deputy to the general assembly of Rhode Island, serving from October 1777 to October 1778 and from May 1782 to May 1783; colonel of the Second Regiment of Providence County Militia in 1780; Member of the Continental Congress 1787-1788; keeper of the 'Peleg Arnold Tavern,' at Smithfield, R.I.; Assistant Governor of Rhode Island in 1790; incorporator of the Providence Society for the Abolition of Slavery in 1790; unsuccessful Anti-Federalist candidate for election to the Fourth Congress in 1794 and also an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election to the same Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Benjamin Bourne in 1796; chief justice of the supreme court of Rhode Island from June 1795 to June 1809 and again from May 1810 to May 1812; president of the Smithfield Union Bank in 1803; president of Smithfield Academy in 1810; again served as deputy to the general assembly of Rhode Island from October 1817 to May 1819; died in Smithfield, R.I., February 13, 1820; interment in Union Cemetery, opposite the Friends Meeting House, in Union Village, near Woonsocket, R.I.

<p>Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) 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.</p>

<p>Arnold was born on June 10, 1751 at Smithfield (now North Smithfield), the ninth of the fifteen children of Thomas Arnold. His mother was Patience Cook of Newport who was Thomas' third wife. After starting in the common schools, he graduated from Brown University in Providence. Like many of his generation he prospered in a number of careers at the same time, and combined these with a government service and civic efforts.</p>

<p>Arnold read law, was admitted to the bar and practiced at Smithfield. He opened and kept the Peleg Arnold Tavern, which still stands at 4 Woonsocket Hill Road in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>04/05/1815 RI Governor Lost 43.22% (-13.09%)</li>
<li>04/02/1806 RI Governor Lost 28.35% (+28.35%)</li>
<li>11/15/1796 RI At-Large-1st Representative Lost 29.02% (-41.96%)</li>
<li>08/26/1794 RI At-Large-1st Representative Lost 37.71% (-24.59%)</li>
<li>12/31/1788 RI Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1787 RI Continental Congress Won 69.19% (+38.37%)</li>
<li>12/31/1786 RI Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
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