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. Why did Benedict Arnold betray the Continental Army to the British? He then directed the construction of a fleet to defend Lake Champlain, which was overmatched and defeated in the October 1776 Battle of Valcour Island. 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. Needed repairs were never ordered on the chain across the Hudson. His father was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was refused communion by his church, and died in 1761. With Benedict Arnold, he led the Green Mountain Boys to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775. She was the conduit for information to the British. 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. 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 . His father was also called Benedict Arnold and his mother's name was Hannah Waterman King. Letters were to be passed through the women's circle that Peggy Arnold was a part of, but only Peggy would be aware that some letters contained instructions that were to be passed on to Andr, written in both code and invisible ink, using Stansbury as the courier. He performed operations that provided the Americans with relief during the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and key actions during the pivotal 1777 Battles of Saratoga, in which he sustained leg injuries that put him out of combat career for several years. He was also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a profit. [72] Clinton was pursuing a campaign to gain control of the Hudson River Valley, and was interested in plans and information on the defenses of West Point and other defenses on the Hudson River. When his British contact, Maj. John Andr, was captured by the Americans, Arnold escaped on a British ship, leaving Andr to be hanged as a spy. [3] Some among those in his military and political circles charged him with corruption and other bad acts. [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". This meeting was thwarted when British gunboats in the river fired on his boat, not being informed of his impending arrival. Various translations of Sun Tzu's The Art of War have been published over the past century. [105] He also wrote in the letter to Washington requesting safe passage for Peggy: "Love to my country actuates my present conduct, however it may appear inconsistent to the world, who very seldom judge right of any man's actions. Arnold was let off with just a slap on the wrist, but again his pride had been wounded. [58] She married Arnold on April 8, 1779. [84], Arnold next wrote a series of letters to Clinton, even before he might have expected a response to the July 7 letter. We largely don't even know who he is. Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Colony of Connecticut, British America. For several years before he . Lee Moran. 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 . [6][103] Among his bequests were considerable gifts to one John Sage, perhaps an illegitimate son or grandson. Arnold was made a brigadier general in the British army. [142] His descendants are spread across Canada, most of all those of John Sage, who adopted the Arnold surname. By. His father was a successful businessman and young Benedict had a comfortable childhood. He did, however, investigate its extent, and suggested that he was willing to exchange Andr for Arnold during negotiations with Clinton concerning Andr's fate. Arnold benefited from his relationship with Mansfield, who became a partner in his business and used his position as sheriff to shield him from creditors. (Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't count; he's British.) [24] Arnold initially took no part in any public demonstrations but, like many merchants, continued to do business openly in defiance of the Parliamentary Acts, which legally amounted to smuggling. [103] Legend has it that, when he was on his deathbed, he said, "Let me die in this old uniform in which I fought my battles. At first, he asked for indemnification of his losses and 10,000,[b] an amount that the Continental Congress had given Charles Lee for his services in the Continental Army. Arnold's friend, George Washington, was heartbroken over the news, but was forced to deal with the treacherous act. [132], Early biographers attempted to describe Arnold's entire life in terms of treacherous or morally questionable behavior. [12] In 1757 when he was 16, he did enlist in the Connecticut militia, which marched off toward Albany, New York, and Lake George. 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. "Since the fall of Lucifer," General Nathanial Greene judged, "nothing has equaled the fall of Arnold." Yet Arnold's accomplishments for the patriot cause were extraordinary. [39] He took the opportunity to visit his children while near his home in New Haven, and he spent much of the winter socializing in Boston, where he unsuccessfully courted a young belle named Betsy Deblois. When American leaders discovered the plot, Arnold fled. Word of the siege's disastrous outcome led the company to turn around, and Arnold served for only 13 days. Answer (1 of 2): In the United States, Benedict Arnold has the dubious distinction of being one of the primary figures responsible for the Revolutionary War's losing cause. His fellow conspirator, Major Andre, was hanged by the Continental army for being a spy. Donald Trump has taken over from Benedict Arnold as "America's number one traitor," according to a group of veterans seeking to vote the president out of office this November. Harper's Weekly published an article in 1861 describing Confederate leaders as "a few men directing this colossal treason, by whose side Benedict Arnold shines white as a saint". Benedict Arnold was a patriot officer who served the cause of the American Revolution until 1779, when he shifted his allegiance to the British. He grew resentful of several rival and younger generals who had been promoted ahead of him and given honors which he thought he deserved. [31], Arnold was in the West Indies when the Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770. The fort was finally captured by the British in 1759. Arnold remained there until July 1781 and then returned to New York. Through his maternal grandmother, Arnold was a descendant of John Lothropp, an ancestor of six presidents. 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. An epidemic of yellow fever ravaged Arnold's family in the 1750s, however, claiming three of his . Benedict Arnold was named brigadier general by the British government and sent on raids to . [119] The most serious of these was a slander suit which he won against a former business partner; and following this, townspeople burned him in effigy in front of his house, as Peggy and the children watched. [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. 1:38. 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. BENEDICT ARNOLD REMAINS the most notorious man in American history, his name a synonym for traitor. He led a force of more than 1,700 men which burned most of New London to the ground on September 4, causing damage estimated at $500,000. 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. [8] His siblings were, in order of birth: Benedict (17381739), Hannah (17421803), Mary (17451753), Absolom (17471750), and Elizabeth (17491755). Benedict Arnold It was General Arnold. [27] Margaret died on June 19, 1775, while Arnold was at Fort Ticonderoga following its capture. Washington refused his offer to resign, and wrote to members of Congress in an attempt to correct this, noting that "two or three other very good officers" might be lost if they persisted in making politically motivated promotions. At critical moments Arnold inspired the Patriots with his grit and determination and earned the admiration of George Washington. My family have voted conservative in most elections. He received a colonel's commission in the Continental Army for this expedition and left Cambridge in September 1775 with 1,100 men. This monument was erected under the patronage of the State of Connecticut in the 55th year of the Independence of the U.S.A. in memory of the brave patriots massacred at Fort Griswold near this spot on the 6th of Sept. Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. [45] He then distinguished himself in both Battles of Saratoga, even though General Gates removed him from field command after the first battle, following a series of escalating disagreements and disputes that culminated in a shouting match. Through the early morning hours of Sept. 22, 1780 the two plotted. [113], Arnold then applied to accompany General Carleton, who was going to New York to replace Clinton as commander-in-chief, but the request went nowhere. He was extremely unpopular there and returned to London permanently in 1791, where he died ten years later. On August 13, Schuyler dispatched him with a force of 900 to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix, where he succeeded in a ruse to lift the siege. He was a war hero who persistently fought for America's independence. [88], On August 30, Arnold sent a letter accepting Clinton's terms and proposing a meeting to Andr through yet another intermediary: William Heron, a member of the Connecticut Assembly whom he thought he could trust. Among others, he shared the name with his father and. Discussions had not borne fruit between Schuyler and Washington by early June. [3] Arnold was buried at St. Mary's Church in Battersea, England. 2. Peggy came from a loyalist family in Philadelphia; she had many ties to the British. [21] However, it is unknown whether this encounter actually happened or not. [113] Other attempts all failed to gain positions within the government or the British East India Company over the next few years, and he was forced to subsist on the reduced pay of non-wartime service. The Arnold residence attained the reputation as one of early Amsterdam's finer homes. Arnold's name had become synonymous with the word traitor. Arnold resented this affront, and only Washingtons personal persuasion kept him from resigning. [16] He was hardworking and successful, and was able to rapidly expand his business. Yet as every elementary school student knows, Benedict reneged on his original commitment and defected to England. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Benedict Arnold's name is synonymous with the word traitor. Interesting Facts About Benedict Arnold. During this time, Arnold brought his sister Hannah to New Haven and established her in his apothecary to manage the business in his absence. attended Canterbury for a while, but when the family's money was lost in some bad business dealings, he had to leave school. It was donated by Civil War General John Watts DePeyster, and its inscription reads: "In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General. [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. The two-story edifice occupied a lot on the west side of Market between East Main and Division Streets. [134] Social historian Brian Carso notes that, as the 19th century progressed, the story of Arnold's betrayal was portrayed with near-mythical proportions as a part of the national history. Many historians see her as having facilitated Arnold's plans to switch sides; he opened secret negotiations with her friend Andr, and she relayed their messages to each other. Early in May he made secret overtures to British headquarters, and a year later he informed the British of a proposed American invasion of Canada. For a time, he was a successful businessman, but after yellow fever took the lives of three of the Arnold children, the patriarch was devastated. As early as 1778, there were signs that Arnold was unhappy with his situation and pessimistic about the country's future. Benedict Arnold was unhappy with his position in the Continental Army by the time he betrayed the cause of the American Revolution to the British. The September 21 meeting with British Major John Andre was a disaster for both men. 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. Neither side knew for some days that the other was in agreement with that offer, due to difficulties in getting the messages across the lines. [59] Shippen and her circle of friends had found methods of staying in contact with paramours across the battle lines, despite military bans on communication with the enemy. In 1763, he repaid money that he had borrowed from the Lathrops,[17] repurchased the family homestead that his father had sold when deeply in debt, and re-sold it a year later for a substantial profit. He won a victory at Fort Stanwix (now Rome) in August 1777 and commanded advance battalions at the Battle of Saratoga that autumn, fighting brilliantly until seriously wounded. [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. He traveled extensively in the course of his business throughout New England and from Quebec to the West Indies, often in command of one of his own ships. He led a small contingent of militia attempting to stop or slow the British return to the coast in the Battle of Ridgefield, and was again wounded in his left leg. On December 8, 1781, Arnold and his family left New York for England. [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. He led the British army in battle against the soldiers whom he had once commanded, after which his name became, and has remained, synonymous with treason and betrayal in the United States.[2]. A figure climbed down from the larger sloop, into the boat and quietly made his way up the Hudson River. In 1787, he moved to Canada to run a merchant business with his sons Richard and Henry. Benedict Arnold betrayed the Continental Army to the British when he made secret overtures to British headquarters in May 1779 and, a year later, informed the British of a proposed American invasion of Canada. He also peppered Washington with complaints about the lack of supplies, writing, "Everything is wanting. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. Working as a spy, Armistead gained the trust of General Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold,. Arnold had three sons with Margaret Mansfield:[150][151]. [85], On August 3, 1780, Arnold obtained command of West Point. [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]. Only action by Arnold's superior at Ticonderoga prevented his own arrest on countercharges leveled by Hazen. While there, he disentangled himself from a lawsuit over an unpaid debt that Peggy had been fighting while he was away, paying 900[b] to settle a 12,000[b] loan that he had taken while living in Philadelphia. When and where was Benedict Arnold born? "Arnold, Benedict (17411801)". [68] Stansbury ignored instructions from Arnold to involve no one else in the plot, and he crossed the British lines and went to see Jonathan Odell in New York. He was again severely wounded in the left leg late in the fighting. [44], Arnold returned to the Hudson where General Gates had taken over command of the American army, which had retreated to a camp south of Stillwater. The band played a funeral march. On November 10, 1778, General Nathanael Greene wrote to General John Cadwalader, "I am told General Arnold is become very unpopular among you oweing to his associateing too much with the Tories. Benedict Arnold began the Revolutionary War as a militia captain. 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. How did Benedict Arnold betray the Continental Army to the British? Arnold's role in the war was controversial, with some supporting his actions and others supporting the Patriots. Sage's gravestone indicates that he was born on April 14, 14, 1786, a date roughly confirmed by Arnold's will, which stated that Sage was 14 when Arnold wrote it in 1800. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [90], Arnold and Andr finally met on September 21 at the Joshua Hett Smith House. These letters were delivered by Samuel Wallis, another Philadelphia businessman who spied for the British, rather than by Stansbury. [1] [7] Arnold was the fourth surviving member of his family named after his great-grandfather Benedict Arnold I, an early governor of the Colony of Rhode Island; his grandfather (Benedict Arnold II) and father, as well as an older brother who died in infancy, were also named for the colonial governor. [79], Shortly after Washington's rebuke, a Congressional inquiry into Arnold's expenditures concluded that he had failed to account fully for his expenditures incurred during the Quebec invasion, and that he owed the Congress some 1,000,[b] largely because he was unable to document them. A Connecticut militia force arrived at Ticonderoga in June; Arnold had a dispute with its commander over control of the fort, and resigned his Massachusetts commission. He could not cope with failure and disgrace. [87], Once Arnold established himself at West Point, he began systematically weakening its defenses and military strength. Arnold purchased large tracts of land in the Maugerville area, and acquired city lots in Saint John and Fredericton. [10] His apprenticeship with the Lathrops lasted seven years. 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. After organizing an assemblage of volunteers, he seized munitions from the New Haven arsenal and led his group northward to fight the British. At a prearranged rendezvous point on the shoreline his contact arrived just after midnight. After formal inquiries, he was usually acquitted, but Congress investigated his finances and determined that he was indebted to Congress, and that he had borrowed money heavily to maintain a lavish lifestyle. [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. [126] As a result of a clerical error in the parish records, his remains were removed to an unmarked mass grave during church renovations a century later. He dared not tell me his name. [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. Before it could be carried out, however, minutemen captured John Andr and informed General George Washingtonof the plot. [34], Arnold then traveled to Montreal where he served as military commander of the city until forced to retreat by an advancing British army that had arrived at Quebec in May. He claimed that Arnold was guilty of all kinds of treasonous acts and preferred the company of the British loyalists, all without offering any proof. [148] He was buried at St Mary's Church, Battersea, England which has a commemorative stained glass window. General Parsons laid it aside, seeing a letter written as a coded business discussion. January 14, 1741, in Norwich Connecticut. [36] However, an acrimonious dispute with Moses Hazen, commander of the 2nd Canadian Regiment, boiled into Hazen's court martial at Ticonderoga during the summer of 1776. He is also believed to have built the first U.S. telescope. 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. His company marched northeast the following month to assist in the siege of Boston that followed the Battles of Lexington and Concord. His Church, and was able to rapidly expand his business needed repairs never. He moved to Canada to run a merchant business with his father was arrested on several for. 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