John Arabin 1703-1757

John ARABIN 1703-1757

Arabin's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection 643)

Biographical Note

Son of Bartelemy Arabin, a Huguenot refugee who fled France in 1685 and settled in Ireland. He pursued a military career, being appointed captain-lieutenant of the Irish Carabiniers in 1733, and lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Dragoons in 1745. He saw action in Scotland during the Jacobite rising of 1745, and later in Gibraltar. He was a freemason, and treasurer of the Grand Lodge in Dublin. He built Moyglare House, near Maynooth.

Books

Arabin used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 634/644); it could alternatively have been used by his son of the same name, also an army officer, who died shortly before his father (1727-57). The extent and disposition of his library are not known; in the 19th century, Arabin descendants acquired an extensive estate at Beach Hill in Essex.

Sources

• John Arabin, Irish Historic Houses.
• Arabin House, House and Heritage.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.