Henry Bennet, earl of Arlington, an Eng-glish statesman, born at Arlington, in Middlesex, in 1618, died July 28, 1685. Devoting himself to the cause of Charles L, he was appointed under-secretary of state, fought in several battles, and was wounded at Andover. After the battle of Worcester he retired to Spain. Upon the restoration he returned to England, and was rewarded for his services by being appointed keeper of the privy seal, and shortly afterward secretary of state. In 1664 he was created Baron Arlington, and in 1672 earl of Arlington. He was one of the plenipotentiaries sent to Utrecht to negotiate a peace between Austria and France. This mission not being successful, an endeavor was! made by his colleagues to cast the odium of the failure upon Arlington; he, however, defended himself before the house of commons, and was acquitted. The war with Holland, which is said to have been caused by the machinations of the "cabal" of which he was a member, lost to Arlington the favor of the king and people; but he received the office of chamberlain.

In 1679 he became a member of the council, and retained his office of chamberlain on the accession of James II.