Colonel Henry Darnall (1645 – 17 June 1711) was an Irish-born planter, militia officer and politician who served as the chancellor of Maryland from 1683 to 1689.

Darnall was the first of his family to emigrate to England's North American colonies, and arrived in the Province of Maryland in 1664, when he was granted a tract of 236 acres in what was then Calvert County.

[2] This alliance brought Darnall wealth and power, as he rapidly acquired both land and political office from his cousin's accommodating husband.

Darnall's colonial appointments included: Chancellor of Maryland from 1683 to 1689; His Lordship's Agent & Receiver General from 1684 to 1711; Rent Roll Keeper, 1689 to 1699; Deputy Governor; and Colonel of the Militia.

Darnall named the estate His Lordship's Kindness in recognition of Calvert's readiness to hand out large swathes of Maryland to his relatives.

Maryland Puritans, by now a substantial majority in the colony, revolted against the proprietary government, in part because of the apparent preferment of Catholics to official positions of power.

The Glorious Revolution of the previous year had put a Protestant King and Queen on the throne of England, but the sovereignty of the new monarchs had not yet been acknowledged in Maryland.

[11][12][13] He later wrote: Wee being in this condition and no hope left of quieting or repelling the People thus enraged, to prevent effusion of blood, capitulated and surrendered.

[13]Coode, never a man for temperate language, later accused Darnall of speaking "treasonable expressions" against the monarch: Wee doubt not his Majestie has by this time (by some of the severall Papers wee have sent) account of our dutyfull and humble Petitions and Endeavours for his Service, The first wee sent were taken by the French but Captaine Thomas Everard Commander of the Thomas and Susanna wee understand is well arrived, Who had the originall address to his Majestie under the hands of the Representatives of the whole Province in a full and free convention But wee doubt the said Everard suffered the said address to be concealed or intercepted by one Colonell Henry Darnall who got on board the said Everard and went home with him to England a Person the Lord Baltemore raised from the meanest condition to be keeper of his great seale and one of the most crimminall of any of his deputies for the many treasonable endeavors and expressions against their Majesties and the many cruelities and opressions [sic] committed upon their subjects of this Province of whome and of whose behaviour in some considerable particulars of this nature one Captain William Ginnis, Captaine George Combes and Captaine Robert Goodinge can informe who sailed home last yeare without their full clearing, the said Darnall refusing to signe the same with the Collector in King William's name, with many violent and unbecoming expressions against his Royaltie ...[14]Darnall was required to answer to the Privy Council on the accusation of treason, which he denied: Petition of Henry Darnell to the Privy Council.