Arnold Buffum Chace, of the eighth American generation of the family founded by William Chace, who came from England with Governor Winthrop and his fleet in 1630, is a son of Samuel B. and Elizabeth (Buffum) Chace, and a grandson of Oliver and Susanna (Buffinton) Chace; Oliver Chace was a son of Jonathan Chace, son of William Chace, son of William Chace, the founder. Arnold Buffum Chace was born at Valley Falls, town of Cumberland, R.I., November 10, 1845, and is yet (1919) an honored business man and citizen of Providence, R.I. He began his education under private tutorage, then entered a Hopedale, Mass., boarding school, and under private teachers completed preparation for college. He entered Brown University in 1862, pursued a full classical course, and in 1866 was graduated A. B., and the year following graduation he spent in study in the chemical classes of Lawrence Scientific School in Cambridge, Mass. The next year following, he was a student in the chemical laboratory of the Ecole de Medicine in Paris, France. His next period of study was under Professor Shaler, of the Aggariz Museum of Cambridge, Mass. These years of study indicate the passion of his life, and years have not abated his thirst for study and research, although added business responsibilities have been carried constantly since the year 1869, when he was elected treasurer of the Valley Falls Company, founded and developed by his honored father and uncle. He has now held that position for over half a century. He has been a director of the Westminster Bank of Providence since 1871; its president since 1894; is president of the Providence Land and Wharf Company, vice-president and trustee of the old Colony Co-operation Bank of Providence; was for years a director of the National Bank of North America, and is a director of the Manufacturers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Providence.
The study of mathematics has been a favored one with Mr. Chace all his life, and one of his published works is a treatise upon 'A Certain Class of Cubic Surfaces Treated by Quarternions', which first appeared in the 'Journal of Mathematics'. He was elected a member of the board of trustees of Brown University in 1876, was chosen treasurer in 1882, serving until 1901, and on October 9, 1907, was elected chancellor of the University, succeeding William Goddard. He yet serves his alma mater in offical capacity, and is a devoted friend of the University, from whence in 1892 he received his degree of Doctor of Science. He is a member of the Review Club, formerly the Browning Club, and is an ex-president, and has contributed many articles on mathematical problems and subjects which were read before the club. While in college he stood second in rank in his class, and all through his life he has retained that position among men of intellectual, scholarly tastes, his nature serious and thoughtful. His characteristics have stood the acid test of the years and high position, and no man in his city is more genuinely respected and honored.
Mr. Chace married, October 24, 1871, Eliza Chace Greene, daughter of Christopher A. and Sarah A. Greene, they the parents of three sons: Arnold Buffum, Jr., Malcolm Greene, Edward Gould, and a daughter, Margaret Lily. (from History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical; NY: The American Historical Society, Inc. 1920)