BENNET, Henry (1618-85)

Sec. to James, duke of York, 1648 – 57; gent. of the privy chamber 1656 – 61; kpr. of the privy purse 1661 – 62; PC 15 Oct. 1662 – d.; sec. of state (South) 1662 – 74; comptroller of prizes 1664 – 67; postmaster gen. (jt.) 1665–6 (sole) 1667–77; V. Barbour, Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington Secretary of State to Charles II, 101; CSP Dom. 1665–6, p. 5. commr. trade 1668–72; Bodl. Carte 72, f. 615. Admiralty commr. 9 July 1673 – 14 May 1679; commr. Tangier 1673, 1680–4; Williamson Letters (Cam. Soc. n.s. viii. ix) i. 149. ld. chamberlain 1674 – d.; ld. steward to Queen Catharine of Braganza 1680 – d.

Resident amb. Madrid 1657 – 61; amb. extraordinary France and Low Countries June – July 1672; special amb. (jt.) Low Countries 10 Nov. 1674 – 7 Jan. 1675.

Commr. assessment, Mdx. 1661 – 65, Westminster 1663 – 65, loyal and indigent officers, London and Westminster 1662; freeman, Portsmouth 1665; gov. Charterhouse 1667; steward, Norwich Cathedral 1668; gov. Deal castle 1668; CSP Dom. 1667–8, p. 593. alderman, Thetford by 1669 – d.; steward of the manor of Higham Ferrers aft. Sept. 1669; high steward, Wallingford 1670 – d.; Kingston-upon-Thames 1683 – d.; custos. rot. and ld. lt. Suff. 1681 – d.

Asst. Roy. Adventurers into Africa by 1664 – 67, 1669 – 71, Roy. Fishing Co. 1664, Roy. Africa Co. 1673; Grandmaster of freemasons, 1679–d. M.K. Schuchard, Restoring the Temple of Vision, 722, 746.