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. Two months later he repelled a British attack on Danbury, Connecticut, and was made a major general, but his seniority was not restored and Arnold felt his honour impugned. 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 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. 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. 1:38. Arnold mingled with Loyalist sympathizers in Philadelphia and married into a Loyalist family when he wedded Peggy Shippen. 8. [112], In London, Arnold aligned himself with the Tories, advising Germain and King George III to renew the fight against the Americans. Arnold's early life consisted of study at some of the Continent's best private schools. 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. [8] His siblings were, in order of birth: Benedict (17381739), Hannah (17421803), Mary (17451753), Absolom (17471750), and Elizabeth (17491755). [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. attended Canterbury for a while, but when the family's money was lost in some bad business dealings, he had to leave school. [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. Crippled from his wounds, Arnold was placed in command of Philadelphia (June 1778), where he socialized with families of loyalist sympathies and lived extravagantly. Before his name became synonymous with treason, Benedict Arnold was a bonafide hero of the American Revolutionary War. 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? He proposed an action to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to seize Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, which he knew was poorly defended. As a young man, Arnold. Things Trump will never be. Arnold had three sons with Margaret Mansfield:[150][151]. In his martial success, he became the target of jealous mediocrities. He followed up that action with a bold raid on Fort Saint-Jean on the Richelieu River north of Lake Champlain. Did he become a traitor because of all the injustice he suffered, real and imagined, at the hands of the Continental Congress and his jealous fellow generals? Shutterstock Though one might guess that the dish was named for Benedict Arnold, the most famous traitor of the American Revolution, it was not. Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. in George Athan Billias, ed., This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 10:05. Arnold commanded the army only until May 20, when Lord Cornwallis arrived with the southern army and took over. He returned a hero, but his rash courage and impatient energy had aroused the enmity of several officers. It was General Arnold. He died, age 60, and was buried in London. Again he tried to resign, but in July he accepted a government order to help stem the British advance into upper New York. Arnold's letters continued to detail Washington's troop movements and provide information about French reinforcements that were being organized. In a July 11 letter, he complained that the British did not appear to trust him, and threatened to break off negotiations unless progress was made. Thereafter his name became an epithet for traitor in the United States. Benedict Arnold was an enthusiastic patriot who believed passionately in the cause of American liberty. Clinton refused this suggestion; after a military tribunal, Andr was hanged at Tappan, New York, on October 2. [99][100] Upon receiving Jameson's message, however, he learned that Jameson had sent Washington the papers which Andr was carrying. Mo talks with author Nathaniel Philbrick about the now . [62], Wetherell says that the shortest explanation for his treason is that he "married the wrong person". He hoped that this work would earn him wider respect and a new command; instead, it earned him and his sons a land-grant of 15,000 acres (6,100ha) in Upper Canada,[122] near present-day Renfrew, Ontario. The Hudson River Chain today Arnold lost most of his siblings to yellow fever, calamitous events that triggered alcoholism in his father. My family have voted conservative in most elections. He was well received by King George III and the Tories but frowned upon by the Whigs and most Army officers. Arnold's Family Life Was Messy By The Time He Was 20. 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. Wikipedia Sign up to our newsletter. Besides, I would argue that even if the British d. . [16] He was hardworking and successful, and was able to rapidly expand his business. 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. [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. However, his betrayal overshadowed his accomplishments in the wars he fought and won. 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. general, has a name that's become synonymous with deceit and. [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. 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. American, then British officer after defecting during the US Revolutionary War (17401801), For other people named Benedict Arnold, see, Raids in Virginia and Connecticut colonies, Arnold's birth records indicate that he was born January 3, 1740 (, One British pound in 1776 would be worth about 160 in 2019. [13] A commonly accepted story that he deserted from militia service in 1758[14] is based on uncertain documentary evidence.[15]. In that era, people ate most of the common foods without. 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. [84], Arnold next wrote a series of letters to Clinton, even before he might have expected a response to the July 7 letter. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and had placed him in command of West Point in New York. He also peppered Washington with complaints about the lack of supplies, writing, "Everything is wanting. The band played a funeral march. And those of us with long memories can take some comfort that things didn't go much better for Arnold once he left the colonies to live in . [22] In a strange twist of fate, "the second most hated British . In 1764, he formed a partnership with Adam Babcock, another young New Haven merchant. Benedict Arnold passed away on 3 March 1849. Benjamin Franklin wrote that "Judas sold only one man, Arnold three millions", and Alexander Scammell described his actions as "black as hell". [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]. With Benedict Arnold, he led the Green Mountain Boys to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775. Angry and frustrated, Arnold resigned his military command of Philadelphia in late April. 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. "Whom Can We Trust Now? His mother came from a wealthy family, but his alcoholic father squandered their estate. Phillips led further raids across Virginia, including a defeat of Baron von Steuben at Petersburg, but he died of fever on May 12, 1781. 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. Following the deaths of three of his. [109] They also attacked and captured Fort Griswold across the river in Groton, Connecticut, slaughtering the Americans after they surrendered following the Battle of Groton Heightsand all these deeds were done just a few miles down the Thames River from Norwich, where Arnold grew up. When in February 1777 Congress created five new major generalships, Arnold was passed over in favour of his juniors. He then went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and suggested to George Washington a second expedition to attack Quebec City via a wilderness route through Maine. Their friendship became the foundation for the treason for which Peggy's. Why did Benedict Arnold betray the Continental Army to the British? During the summer of 1778, he met Peggy Shippen, the 18-year-old daughter of Judge Edward Shippen (III), a Loyalist sympathizer who had done business with the British while they occupied the city;[57] Peggy had been courted by British Major John Andr during the British occupation of Philadelphia. Benedict Arnold Is America's Most Famous Traitor. General Washington gave him a light reprimand, but it merely heightened Arnold's sense of betrayal; nonetheless, he had already opened negotiations with the British before his court martial even began. This meeting was thwarted when British gunboats in the river fired on his boat, not being informed of his impending arrival. For additional information about Arnold's amazing career as a Continental officer, consult James Kirby Martin, Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered (New York, 1997). Benedict Arnold was born a British subject, the second of six children of his father Benedict Arnold III (16831761) and Hannah Waterman King in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1741. How did Benedict Arnold betray the Continental Army to the British? He arrived before Quebec City in November, after a difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 died en route. Far fewer know . It is what happened after 1775 that began to wear him down and bring on his disillusionment. [140], Canadian historians have treated Arnold as a relatively minor figure. His health simply declined, partly as a result of his war wounds, partly as a result of what used to be called dropsy edema, the dramatic retention of fluid in limbs. Benedict Arnold's name might be the first that comes to mind when we think of treason not just because he was a traitor, but because he was such an unlikely one. He was the second of the couple's six children. Stansbury's testimony before a British commission erroneously placed his meeting with Arnold in June. Benedict Arnold served in the Connecticut militia and participated in the Siege of Boston. His ventures met with mixed success. His father was a successful businessman and young Benedict had a comfortable childhood. He then presented the attack of Fort Ticonderoga. In the House of Commons, Edmund Burke expressed the hope that the government would not put Arnold "at the head of a part of a British army" lest "the sentiments of true honour, which every British officer [holds] dearer than life, should be afflicted". Benedict Arnold's name is synonymous with the word traitor. One plaque bears only a rank and a date but no name: "major general born 1740". [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. Benedict Arnold 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. The absent name is Benedict Arnold, a name now synonymous with "traitor." Many Americans understand why his name has been erased from the chapel of the garrison he once commanded. He was also convicted of two minor charges of using his authority to make a profit. Arnold established himself in business in 1762 as a pharmacist and bookseller in New Haven, Connecticut, with the help of the Lathrops. 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. The arched, double-door main entrance provided a stately, picturesque quality to the home. [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. [128][d], Benedict Arnold's name became synonymous with "traitor" soon after his betrayal became public, and biblical themes were often invoked. Arnold wrote out passes for Andr so that he would be able to pass through the lines, and he also gave him plans for West Point. [27] Their son Benedict was born the following year[28] and was followed by brothers Richard in 1769 and Henry in 1772. Word of the siege's disastrous outcome led the company to turn around, and Arnold served for only 13 days. "[102], The British gave Arnold a brigadier general's commission with an annual income of several hundred pounds, but they paid him only 6,315 plus an annual pension of 360[b] for his defection because his plot had failed. [49][citation not found], Arnold spent several months recovering from his injuries. Arnold's childhood was marred by tragedy; by age 20, he was an orphan struggling to make his way in the world as an apothecary. Later he became infamous for being a traitor, fighting for the British. May God forgive me for ever having put on another,"[125] but this story may be apocryphal. 2. (Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't count; he's British.) [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. To raise money, he violated several state and military regulations, arousing the suspicions and, finally, the denunciations of Pennsylvanias supreme executive council. 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. Washington also infiltrated men into New York City in an attempt to capture Arnold. By. Excited by the prospects, Clinton informed his superiors of his intelligence coup, but failed to respond to Arnold's July 7 letter. Arnold had the power to act, to defy the stresses of business and the dangers of the battlefield; but Peggy had the power to endure. [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. It just doesn't respect it", "Letter, Benedict Arnold to George Washington pleading for mercy for his wife", "Benedict Arnold: The Aftermath of Treason", "Saratoga National Historical Park Activities", "Saratoga National Historical Park Tour Stop 7", links to primary sources about Benedict Arnold before and after his treason, Arnold, Benedict (17411801), army officer | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, African Americans in the Revolutionary War, Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benedict_Arnold&oldid=1139478021, 18th-century American non-fiction writers, American expatriates in the United Kingdom, British Army personnel of the American Revolutionary War, British people of the French Revolutionary Wars, British spies during the American Revolution, Businesspeople from New Haven, Connecticut, Connecticut militiamen in the American Revolution, Continental Army officers from Connecticut, Continental Army personnel who were court-martialed, Military personnel from Norwich, Connecticut, People of Connecticut in the French and Indian War, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, All articles with broken links to citations, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Benedict Arnold (17681795) (Captain, British Army in Jamaica), Henry Arnold (17721826) (Lieutenant, American Legion cavalry), Edward Shippen Arnold (17801813) (Lieutenant, British Army in India; see, James Robertson Arnold (17811854) (Lieutenant General, Royal Engineers), George Arnold (17871828) (Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd (or 7th) Bengal Cavalry). Benedict Arnold's reasons for betraying America were extraordinarily complex. [143], The Boot Monument at Saratoga National Historical Park pays tribute to Arnold but does not mention his name. Arnold died in London at the age of 60. They had no reason to suspect that Gen. Benedict Arnold, the new commander of the post, would be less than a gracious host. 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". However, his actions at Saint-Jean and Valcour Island played a notable role in delaying the British advance against Ticonderoga until 1777. Clinton was uninterested in most of his aggressive ideas, but finally authorized him to raid the port of New London, Connecticut. During the American War for Independence, several engagements were fought at the five-pointed star-shaped Fort Ticonderoga. 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. [80] Many of these documents had been lost during the retreat from Quebec. 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. Benedict Arnold was born on Jan. 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. [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. In 1780, when "The Capture of Benedict Arnold" episode takes place, Rittenhouse in real life was treasurer of Pennsylvania. -Benedict Arnold, January, 1780. We largely don't even know who he is. The most famous of these occurred on May 10, 1775, when Ethan Allen and his band of Green Mountain Boys, accompanied by Benedict Arnold, who held a commission from . [81], Early in April, Philip Schuyler had approached Arnold with the possibility of giving him the command at West Point. [22], The Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 severely curtailed mercantile trade in the colonies. His company marched northeast the following month to assist in the siege of Boston that followed the Battles of Lexington and Concord. 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. Order to help stem the British in 1775 I would argue that even if the advance... 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