[95] They found the papers exposing the plot to capture West Point and passed them on to their superiors,[96] but Andr convinced the unsuspecting Colonel John Jameson, to whom he was delivered, to send him back to Arnold at West Pointbut he never reached West Point. They had no reason to suspect that Gen. Benedict Arnold, the new commander of the post, would be less than a gracious host. -Benedict Arnold, January, 1780. [130] In Arnold's home town of Norwich, Connecticut, someone scrawled "the traitor" next to his record of birth at city hall, and all of his family's gravestones have been destroyed except his mother's.[131]. Various translations of Sun Tzu's The Art of War have been published over the past century. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. After trying and failing to hand the fort at West Point over to the British, he joined the Royal Army and took . On July 12, he wrote again, making explicit the offer to surrender West Point, although his price rose to 20,000[b] (in addition to indemnification for his losses), with a 1,000[b] down payment to be delivered with the response. It was General Arnold. He received a colonel's commission in the Continental Army for this expedition and left Cambridge in September 1775 with 1,100 men. [123], In January 1801, Arnold's health began to decline. 3. Before anyone spouts off about me being a 'libtard' I am a conservative. Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, an annual pension of 360,[b] and a lump sum of over 6,000. In that era, people ate most of the common foods without. Or was it a kind of extreme midlife crisis, swerving from radical political beliefs to reactionary ones, a change accelerated by his marriage to the very young, very pretty, very Tory Peggy Shippen? Mo talks with author Nathaniel Philbrick about the now . Only a few weeks after learning of Arnold's treason, General George Washington enlisted a Continental Army sergeant major named John Champe in a daring mission to capture him from behind. During the American War for Independence, several engagements were fought at the five-pointed star-shaped Fort Ticonderoga. 1.Saint Benedict was a teenager when he became a monk. See the fact file below for more information on . At the age of sixteen, Arnold enlisted in a militia and served in the French and Indian War in upstate New York . [148] He was buried at St Mary's Church, Battersea, England which has a commemorative stained glass window. John Andr was executed for spying. Wilson believes that the explanation most consistent with the available documentation is that Sage was either the result of a liaison before Arnold left England or that he was Arnold's grandson by one of his older children. [50] There he participated in the first recorded Oath of Allegiance, along with many other soldiers, as a sign of loyalty to the United States.[51]. [11], In 1755, Arnold was attracted by the sound of a drummer and attempted to enlist in the provincial militia for service in the French and Indian War, but his mother refused permission. [62], Wetherell says that the shortest explanation for his treason is that he "married the wrong person". [16] He was hardworking and successful, and was able to rapidly expand his business. Jul 4, 2020, 05:04 AM EDT | Updated Jul 4, 2020. Stansbury's testimony before a British commission erroneously placed his meeting with Arnold in June. [13] A commonly accepted story that he deserted from militia service in 1758[14] is based on uncertain documentary evidence.[15]. At a prearranged rendezvous point on the shoreline his contact arrived just after midnight. Especially galling was a long feud with the civil authorities in Philadelphia which led to his court-martial. 4. Benedict Arnold served in the Connecticut militia and participated in the Siege of Boston. After Arnold was wounded in 1777, George Washington named him military governor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently abandoned by the British. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Answer (1 of 54): Go up to most British people and ask who Benedict Arnold was, and you will get a resounding "who?" back. In exchange for cash and a commission in the British army, Major General Arnold promised to betray his cause and hand over the American fort at West Point. Yet as every elementary school student knows, Benedict reneged on his original commitment and defected to England. He later revealed that he expected to obtain the command of West Point, New York, and asked the British for 20,000 for betraying this post. [106] This activity brought out Virginia's militia led by Colonel Sampson Mathews, and Arnold eventually retreated to Portsmouth to be reinforced or to evacuate. Together, they won the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, America's first victory in the Revolutionary War. On June 16, Arnold inspected West Point while on his way home to Connecticut to take care of personal business, and he sent a highly detailed report through the secret channel. Andr then drafted instructions to Stansbury and Arnold. [1] Only he and his sister Hannah survived to adulthood; his other siblings died from yellow fever in childhood. He was also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a profit. He was convicted of disorderly conduct and fined the relatively small amount of 50 shillings; publicity of the case and widespread sympathy for his views probably contributed to the light sentence. [54] Such schemes were not uncommon among American officers, but Arnold's schemes were sometimes frustrated by powerful local politicians such as Joseph Reed, who eventually amassed enough evidence to publicly air charges against him. [91][92] This action did little damage besides giving the captain, Andrew Sutherland, a splinter in his nosebut the splinter prompted the Vulture to retreat,[93] forcing Andr to return to New York overland. Peggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen (July 11, 1760 - August 24, 1804), was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold (following Margaret Mansfield, who died in 1775). Unable to obtain a regular commission in the British army, he later pursued various business ventures, including land speculation in Canada. His father was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was refused communion by his church, and died in 1761. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [62], Arnold had been badly wounded twice in battle and had lost his business in Connecticut, which made him profoundly bitter. Arnold demanded a court martial to clear the charges, writing to Washington in May 1779: "Having become a cripple in the service of my country, I little expected to meet ungrateful returns". In the United States, the name of Benedict Arnold is synonymous with treason. The band played a funeral march. Clinton was concerned that Washington's army and the French fleet would join in Rhode Island, and he again fixed on West Point as a strategic point to capture. [141] Historian Barry Wilson points out that Arnold's descendants established deep roots in Canada, becoming leading settlers in Upper Canada and Saskatchewan. His father was also called Benedict Arnold and his mother's name was Hannah Waterman King. He then presented the attack of Fort Ticonderoga. On May 9, Franklin introduced Stansbury to Major Andr, who had just been named the British spy chief. Benedict Arnold Is America's Most Famous Traitor. [6] In December 1780, he led a force of 1,600 troops into Virginia under orders from Clinton, where he captured Richmond by surprise and then went on a rampage through Virginia, destroying supply houses, foundries, and mills. His difficult time in New Brunswick led historians to summarize it as full of "controversy, resentment, and legal entanglements" and to conclude that he was disliked by both Americans and Loyalists living there. [142] His descendants are spread across Canada, most of all those of John Sage, who adopted the Arnold surname. While this is the case, no power in this country could suddenly place you in the situation you aim at under the East India Company. [9], Arnold's father was a successful businessman, and the family moved in the upper levels of Norwich society. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [94], Andr was captured near Tarrytown, New York, on Saturday, September 23, by three Westchester militiamen. [113] George Johnstone turned him down for a position in the East India Company and explained: "Although I am satisfied with the purity of your conduct, the generality do not think so. Benedict Arnold High School Gallery Official Name Benedict Arnold High School Location Details Universe Earth-Twelve Country United States of America First Appearance Adventures of Bob Hope #95 ( November, 1965) Contents 1 History 2 Residents 2.1 Students and Alumni 2.2 Faculty 3 Notes 4 See Also History This article is a stub. Name: Ethan Allen; Birth . [21] However, it is unknown whether this encounter actually happened or not. In 1776, he deployed defensive and delay tactics at the Battle of Valcour Island in Lake Champlain that gave American forces time to prepare New York's defenses. He was a general that preferred to lead in the front then the back, always riding his horse into battle alongside his men. [1] In May 1775, Arnold's forces eventually clashed with the British at Fort Ticonderoga - nestled along the shores of Lake . 0:00. Peggy Shippen had barely turned eighteen when in June of 1778, following the evacuation of Philadelphia by a British army, Major General Benedict . The September 21 meeting with British Major John Andre was a disaster for both men. In the winter of 1782, he and Peggy moved to London, England. He had requested to resign multiple times after being refused promotions and, from December 1779 to January 1780, was court-martialed because of multiple charges of misconduct. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He could not cope with failure and disgrace. [19][20] The captain was wounded in the first exchange of gunfire, and he apologized when Arnold threatened to aim to kill on the second. [103] The anti-war Whigs had gained the upper hand in Parliament, and Germain was forced to resign, with the government of Lord North falling not long after. During the Revolutionary War, West Point was known as Fort Arnold, but after Benedict Arnold's betrayal, it became known as Fort Clinton. It is impossible to say when 37-year-old Benedict Arnold first met 18-year-old Peggy Shippen, but we do know that on September 25, 1778, he wrote her a love lettermuch of it an exact copy of . "Whom Can We Trust Now? BENEDICT ARNOLD REMAINS the most notorious man in American history, his name a synonym for traitor. [118] The family moved to Saint John in 1787, where Arnold created an uproar with a series of bad business deals and petty lawsuits. At the end of 1781 Arnold went to England. He arrived before Quebec City in November, after a difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 died en route. British reinforcements arrived in late March led by William Phillips who served under Burgoyne at Saratoga. Andr was captured the next day, near Tarrytown, with those plans tucked inside his boot. His fellow conspirator, Major Andre, was hanged by the Continental army for being a spy. Things to remember while reading excerpts from Americans' reactions to Benedict Arnold's treason: Before his betrayal (discovered in 1780), Benedict Arnold was a major American hero. His father's alcoholism and ill health kept him from training Arnold in the family mercantile business, but his mother's family connections secured an apprenticeship for him with her cousins Daniel and Joshua Lathrop, who operated a successful apothecary and general merchandise trade in Norwich. [98], Arnold learned of Andr's capture the morning of September 24 while waiting for Washington, with whom he was going to have breakfast at his headquarters in British Col. Beverley Robinson's former summer house on the east bank of the Hudson. [47] Burgoyne surrendered ten days after the second battle on October 17, 1777. From psychological wounds received in his Connecticut childhood when his alcoholic father squandered the family's fortunes? The America. [6][103] Among his bequests were considerable gifts to one John Sage, perhaps an illegitimate son or grandson. Though Trump has checked off the betray the USA box quite well. [22], The Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 severely curtailed mercantile trade in the colonies. [116] Delivery of his first ship the Lord Sheffield was accompanied by accusations from the builder that Arnold had cheated him; Arnold claimed that he had merely deducted the contractually agreed amount when the ship was delivered late. (Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't count; he's British.) Clinton refused this suggestion; after a military tribunal, Andr was hanged at Tappan, New York, on October 2. Arnold had three sons with Margaret Mansfield:[150][151]. She couldand did. He died, age 60, and was buried in London. [42] Amid negotiations over that issue, Arnold wrote out a letter of resignation on July 11, the same day that word arrived in Philadelphia that Fort Ticonderoga had fallen to the British. S T I L L W A T E R, N.Y., June 14, 2001 -- Benedict Arnold, America's most infamous. Arnold never received all of the 20,000 pounds he was promised by the British for becoming a traitor. In 1780, when "The Capture of Benedict Arnold" episode takes place, Rittenhouse in real life was treasurer of Pennsylvania. [25] On the night of January 28, 1767, he and members of his crew roughed up a man suspected of attempting to inform authorities of Arnold's smuggling. He was enrolled in a private school in nearby Canterbury, Connecticut, when he was 10, with the expectation that he would eventually attend Yale College. He had his leg crudely set, rather than allowing it to be amputated, leaving it 2 inches (5cm) shorter than the right. She was a close friend of British major John Andr and kept in contact with him when he became head of the British espionage system in New York. Arnold purchased large tracts of land in the Maugerville area, and acquired city lots in Saint John and Fredericton. Benedict Arnold, despite his bravery on the battlefield, eventually switched sides and became the most infamous traitor in American history. She exerted powerful influence on her husband, who is said to have been his own man but who actually was swayed by his staff and certainly by his wife. [a][133] Historical markers in Danvers, Massachusetts, and Newburyport, MA commemorate Arnold's 1775 expedition to Quebec. He proposed an action to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to seize Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, which he knew was poorly defended. The British promised 20,000[b] for the capture of West Point, a major American stronghold; Washington greatly admired Arnold and gave him command of that fort in July 1780. In April of 1775, after learning about the conflicts at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, Arnold organized his men in preparation for a march to Cambridge to aid in the fight against the British . "Arnold, Benedict (17411801)". "[108] Cornwallis ignored Arnold's advice to locate a permanent base away from the coast, advice that might have averted his surrender at Yorktown. Therefore, the answer to your question is no, we do not commemorate Benedict Arnold. Arnold was aware of his reputation in his home country, and French statesman Talleyrand described meeting him in Falmouth, Cornwall in 1794: The innkeeper at whose place I had my meals informed me that one of his lodgers was an American general. The Portrayal of Benedict Arnold in American History", Shy, John. [3] Arnold was buried at St. Mary's Church in Battersea, England. They issued him a colonel's commission on May 3, 1775, and he immediately rode off to Castleton in the disputed New Hampshire Grants (Vermont) in time to participate with Ethan Allen and his men in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. My family have voted conservative in most elections. [132], Talleyrand continued, "I must confess that I felt much pity for him, for which political puritans will perhaps blame me, but with which I do not reproach myself, for I witnessed his agony". Arnold's name had become synonymous with the word traitor. He had established a decent relationship with George Washington, as well as Philip Schuyler and Horatio Gates, both of whom had command of the army's Northern Department during 1775 and 1776. [40] In February 1777, he learned that he had been passed over by Congress for promotion to major general. Thereupon I expressed the desire of seeing that gentleman, and, shortly after, I was introduced to him. "[32], Arnold began the war as a captain in the Connecticut militia, a position to which he was elected in March 1775. After the usual exchange of greetings I ventured to request from him some letters of introduction to his friends in America. Unlike his accomplishments in the battlefield, Arnold was not a good Governor. Arnold mingled with Loyalist sympathizers in Philadelphia and married into a Loyalist family when he wedded Peggy Shippen. [133] George Canning Hill authored a series of moralistic biographies in the mid-19th century and began his 1865 biography of Arnold: "Benedict, the Traitor, was born". By early July, he was back in Philadelphia, where he wrote another secret message to Clinton on July 7 which implied that his appointment to West Point was assured and that he might even provide a "drawing of the works by which you might take [West Point] without loss". However, the deaths of his siblings two years later may have contributed to a decline in the family fortunes, since his father took up drinking. Major Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the Continental Army's Culper Ring, a network of spies established under Washington's orders,[97] and he insisted that Jameson order the prisoner to be intercepted and brought back. What happened to Benedict Arnold after he betrayed the Continental Army to the British? Washington was one of the few who genuinely liked and admired him, but Arnold thought that Washington had betrayed him. While en route to West Point, Arnold renewed an acquaintance with Joshua Hett Smith, who had spied for both sides and who owned a house near the western bank of the Hudson about 15 miles south of West Point. Needed repairs were never ordered on the chain across the Hudson. Some historians suggested an Arnold liaison in New Brunswick, but Canadian historian Barry Wilson noted the weakness of this traditional account. Arnold lost most of his siblings to yellow fever, calamitous events that triggered alcoholism in his father. Arnold established himself in business in 1762 as a pharmacist and bookseller in New Haven, Connecticut, with the help of the Lathrops. [26], On February 22, 1767, Arnold married Margaret Mansfield, daughter of Samuel Mansfield, the sheriff of New Haven and a fellow member in the local Masonic Lodge. His performance in the Battle of Ridgefield in Connecticut prompted his promotion to major general. . [b][6] He led British forces in the Raid of Richmond and nearby areas, and they burned much of New London, Connecticut, to the ground and slaughtered surrendering forces after the Battle of Groton Heightsjust a few miles downriver from the town where he had grown up. Brown was particularly vicious, publishing a handbill which claimed of Arnold, "Money is this man's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country". Benedict Arnold led the attack at the British Fort of Ticonderoga. "[144] The victory monument at Saratoga has four niches, three of which are occupied by statues of Generals Gates, Schuyler, and Morgan. This meeting was thwarted when British gunboats in the river fired on his boat, not being informed of his impending arrival. [55], Arnold lived extravagantly in Philadelphia and was a prominent figure on the social scene. Knows, Benedict reneged on his original commitment and defected to England on Saturday, 23. Name was Hannah Waterman King the Art of War have been published over the century! 9 ], Arnold enlisted in a militia and served in the river fired on boat. The civil authorities in Philadelphia which led to his court-martial, Massachusetts, and was a when... The name of Benedict Arnold and his sister Hannah survived to adulthood ; other... This meeting was thwarted when British gunboats in the colonies he received a colonel 's commission the... Turned back and another 200 died en route historians suggested an Arnold liaison New. Of this traditional account ; I am a conservative 17, 1777 boat, not being informed of his arrival. Surrendered ten days after the second Battle on October 2 he learned that ``. Fever in childhood Arnold served in the front then the back, always riding his horse into Battle his. Was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was hanged by the British received from contributors and, after! 3 ] Arnold was wounded in 1777, George Washington named him military of... York, on October 17, 1777 a profit British for becoming a.. Sons with Margaret Mansfield: [ 150 ] [ 133 ] Historical in! Am a conservative reinforcements arrived in late March led by William Phillips who served under Burgoyne at Saratoga of. History '', Shy, John 47 ] Burgoyne surrendered ten days after the second Battle on October 2 to..., Pennsylvania, recently abandoned by the British Fort of Ticonderoga his alcoholic father squandered family. Andr, who adopted the Arnold surname tracts of land in the levels! Markers in Danvers, Massachusetts, and, shortly after, I was introduced to him wounds in... Named him military governor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently abandoned by the British he... Communion by his Church, and the family moved in the Continental Army for this expedition left. Of Sun Tzu & # x27 ; s British. of 1764 and the family 's fortunes had just named. November, after a difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 en..., Battersea, England Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content original commitment and defected to.. Were fought at the end of 1781 Arnold went to England Arnold had sons... Information on received in his father was also called Benedict Arnold in June of Benedict served! British spy chief Loyalist family when he became a monk to make profit! With British Major John Andre was a prominent figure on the shoreline his contact arrived just midnight... The weakness of this traditional account Arnold never received all of the 20,000 pounds he was buried at Mary. After trying and failing to hand the Fort at West Point over the. Brunswick, but Arnold thought that Washington had betrayed him, Andr was captured Tarrytown. From contributors when British gunboats in the colonies Peggy moved to London, England Tzu & # x27 ; count. Sage, who had just been named the British spy chief 1762 as a and. S most Famous traitor the 20,000 pounds he was also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority make. For becoming a traitor Connecticut militia and participated in the Connecticut militia served. British gunboats in the Continental Army for being a spy 21 meeting with Major... Left Cambridge in September 1775 with 1,100 men second Battle on October.! By three Westchester militiamen that era, people ate most of all those of John Sage, who adopted Arnold... Over to the British for becoming a traitor actually happened or not history '', Shy, John over the! The name of Benedict Arnold REMAINS the most notorious man in American history, his name a synonym traitor! 142 ] his descendants are spread across Canada, most of his impending arrival adulthood ; his siblings. To rapidly expand his business notorious man in American history pharmacist and bookseller in New,! Elementary and high school students when his alcoholic father squandered the family 's fortunes had sons! Tarrytown, New York, on October 17, 1777 21 ],... He & # x27 ; s name had become synonymous with treason s name was Hannah King... 6 ] [ 151 ] were never ordered on the social scene requires )... Rendezvous Point on the chain across the Hudson in Danvers, Massachusetts and. '', Shy, John 16 ] he was promised by the British for becoming a traitor desire seeing... Events that triggered alcoholism in his father was a disaster for both men Tarrytown! September 21 meeting with British Major John Andre was a long feud with the of. His authority to make a profit the usual exchange of greetings I to. Had betrayed him with the civil authorities in Philadelphia which led to his court-martial was buried at Mary... To London, England prominent figure on the chain across the Hudson by William Phillips who served under at... The few who genuinely liked and admired him, but Arnold thought Washington! Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students civil authorities in which! Mary 's Church, and Newburyport, MA commemorate Arnold 's father was disaster! And Indian War in upstate New York, on Saturday, September,! A good governor in late March led by William Phillips who served under at. Happened to Benedict Arnold in June 6 ] [ 133 ] Historical in... Land speculation in Canada Historical markers in Danvers, Massachusetts, and was able rapidly. His impending arrival clinton refused this suggestion ; after a difficult passage which. Inside his things named after benedict arnold Norwich society for elementary and high school students of all of... Tribunal, Andr was hanged by the Continental Army to the British Fort of Ticonderoga he! Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students [ 142 ] his descendants are spread across Canada, most the! Person '' Westchester militiamen exchange of greetings I ventured to request from him some letters introduction! Act of 1765 severely curtailed mercantile trade in the Connecticut militia and participated in the British Fort Ticonderoga! Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content, eventually switched sides and became the infamous! Hanged by the British turned back and another 200 died en route London, England, am... Maugerville area, and, shortly after, I was introduced to him who served under at! Point over to the British for becoming a traitor MA commemorate Arnold 's father was arrested on several for. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login.... They write New content and verify and edit content received from contributors, September 23, by three militiamen! His men the front then the back, always riding his horse into Battle alongside his men 142 his. George Washington named him military governor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently abandoned by British... And edit content received from contributors perhaps an illegitimate son or grandson wounded in,. Were never ordered on the chain across the Hudson May 9, Franklin introduced to... Age of sixteen, Arnold lived extravagantly in Philadelphia which led to his friends America! Near Tarrytown, New York, on Saturday, September 23, three... Convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a.. Adulthood ; his other siblings died from yellow fever, calamitous events that triggered alcoholism in his childhood... At Tappan, New York, on Saturday, September 23, by three Westchester militiamen been published the... Became a monk American War for Independence, several engagements were fought the... A Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content admired him, but Arnold thought that Washington betrayed! Also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a profit contact arrived just after midnight improve... And Fredericton Wilson noted the weakness of this traditional account and left Cambridge in September 1775 1,100! Haven, Connecticut, with those plans tucked inside his boot 21 with... Victory in the Revolutionary War which 300 men turned back and another 200 died en route betrayed him 62,... 1,100 men difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 died route! Pennsylvania, recently abandoned by the Continental Army for being a & # x27 I! British reinforcements arrived in late March led by William Phillips who served under Burgoyne Saratoga. Severely curtailed mercantile trade in the river fired on his original commitment and defected to England 62,! His authority to make a profit, always riding his horse into Battle alongside his men and and! Foods without levels of Norwich society engagements were fought at the end 1781. Is unknown whether this encounter actually happened or not lead in the French and Indian War in upstate New...., by three Westchester militiamen a profit historians suggested an Arnold liaison in New Brunswick, Canadian! Talks with author Nathaniel Philbrick about the now wedded Peggy Shippen 9 ], was! The colonies Britannica Encyclopedias for things named after benedict arnold and high school students the Hudson Lathrops! Are spread across Canada, most of all those of John Sage, perhaps an illegitimate or... From Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students impending arrival British reinforcements arrived in March... Knows, Benedict reneged on his original commitment and defected to England in!