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. He returned to the army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in May 1778 to the applause of men who had served under him at Saratoga. He arrived before Quebec City in November, after a difficult passage in which 300 men turned back and another 200 died en route. When the British took control of Philadelphia in 1777, Peggy met John Andr, a charming, well-educated British officer. 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. Bettmann / Corbis "You have five. Arnold had three sons with Margaret Mansfield:[150][151]. It was General Arnold. [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. 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. [8] His siblings were, in order of birth: Benedict (17381739), Hannah (17421803), Mary (17451753), Absolom (17471750), and Elizabeth (17491755). 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 . He began to drink heavily, and . Benedict Arnold, shown on the left concealing his plans in John Andr's boot, has become synonymous with treason but before he betrayed America, he saved it. [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. Benedict Arnold's name is synonymous with the word traitor. One thing that we can set aside is any notion that the dish was named after Benedict Arnold, the Revolutionary War general who became the most famous American traitor in history after he defected to the British army and became a general for the other side, leading troops against those he once commanded. In 1764, he formed a partnership with Adam Babcock, another young New Haven merchant. What happened to Benedict Arnold after he betrayed the Continental Army to the British? He was imprisoned by French authorities on Guadeloupe amid accusations of spying for the British, and narrowly eluded hanging by escaping to the blockading British fleet after bribing his guards. His action at Ridgefield, coupled with the death of Wooster due to wounds sustained in the action, resulted in his promotion to major general, although his seniority was not restored over those who had been promoted before him. 3. [137] A moralistic children's tale entitled "The Cruel Boy" was widely circulated in the 19th century. 4. Before it could be carried out, however, minutemen captured John Andr and informed General George Washingtonof the plot. Discussions had not borne fruit between Schuyler and Washington by early June. [117] After her first voyage, Arnold returned to London in 1786 to bring his family to Saint John. [138] The boy is not identified until the end of the story, when his place of birth is given as Norwich, Connecticut, and his name is given as Benedict Arnold. [21] However, it is unknown whether this encounter actually happened or not. He proposed an action to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to seize Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, which he knew was poorly defended. 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. [23] The Stamp Act prompted Arnold to join the chorus of voices in opposition, and also led to his joining the Sons of Liberty, a secret organization which advocated resistance to those and other restrictive Parliamentary measures. He helped organize militia forces on British-held islands, receiving praise from the landowners for his efforts on their behalf. However, his actions at Saint-Jean and Valcour Island played a notable role in delaying the British advance against Ticonderoga until 1777. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. "[32], Arnold began the war as a captain in the Connecticut militia, a position to which he was elected in March 1775. In May 1775, Arnold's forces eventually clashed with the British at Fort Ticonderoga - nestled along the shores of Lake . [112], In London, Arnold aligned himself with the Tories, advising Germain and King George III to renew the fight against the Americans. [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. His father was a successful businessman and young Arnold was educated in private schools. 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. After the usual exchange of greetings I ventured to request from him some letters of introduction to his friends in America. In real life: Arnold left for England in late 1781, before the official surrender, in an unsuccessful bid to persuade the Crown to keep the war going in America. Working as a spy, Armistead gained the trust of General Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold,. He presided over the rear of the Continental Army during its retreat from Saint-Jean, where he was reported by James Wilkinson to be the last person to leave before the British arrived. [142] His descendants are spread across Canada, most of all those of John Sage, who adopted the Arnold surname. 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. Arnold never received all of the 20,000 pounds he was promised by the British for becoming a 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. [82] When he reached Connecticut, Arnold arranged to sell his home there and began transferring assets to London through intermediaries in New York. The Portrayal of Benedict Arnold in American History", Shy, John. [75], Arnold's court martial on charges of profiteering began meeting on June 1, 1779, but it was delayed until December 1779 by Clinton's capture of Stony Point, New York, throwing the army into a flurry of activity to react. 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. Promoted to the rank of brigadier general, Arnold constructed a flotilla on Lake Champlain and inflicted severe losses on a greatly superior enemy fleet near Valcour Island, New York (October 11, 1776). 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". [27] Their son Benedict was born the following year[28] and was followed by brothers Richard in 1769 and Henry in 1772. Benedict Arnold Benedict's exploits and continuous wins caught the eye of George Washington, who . 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]. He was the second of the couple's six children. 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". Born in 1867 in Hanley, Staffordshire (part of the famous 'Potteries' and now a district of Stoke-on-Trent), Enoch Arnold Bennett was named after his father, a solicitor. [135] Jefferson Davis and other southern secessionist leaders were unfavorably compared to Arnold, implicitly and explicitly likening the idea of secession to treason. [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. Arnold established himself in business in 1762 as a pharmacist and bookseller in New Haven, Connecticut, with the help of the Lathrops. In 1787, he moved to Canada to run a merchant business with his sons Richard and Henry. Benedict Arnold began the Revolutionary War as a militia captain. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defecting to the British side of the conflict in 1780. [71], By July 1779, Arnold was providing the British with troop locations and strengths, as well as the locations of supply depots, all the while negotiating over compensation. He also provided information on a proposed French-American invasion of Quebec that was to go up the Connecticut River (Arnold did not know that this proposed invasion was a ruse intended to divert British resources). Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticutthe fifth person in his family to be named Benedict Arnold. [132], Early biographers attempted to describe Arnold's entire life in terms of treacherous or morally questionable behavior. [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. Arnold was born in Connecticut. When in February 1777 Congress created five new major generalships, Arnold was passed over in favour of his juniors. He sent an Indian messenger into the camp of British Brigadier General Barry St. Leger with news that the approaching force was much larger and closer than it actually was; this convinced St. Leger's Indian allies to abandon him, forcing him to give up the effort. Washington Irving used it as part of an argument against dismemberment of the union in his 1857 Life of George Washington, pointing out that the unity of New England and the southern states which led to independence was made possible in part by holding West Point. The September 21 meeting with British Major John Andre was a disaster for both men. 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. Through his maternal grandmother, Arnold was a descendant of John Lothropp, an ancestor of six presidents. Why did Benedict Arnold betray the Continental Army to the British? He also peppered Washington with complaints about the lack of supplies, writing, "Everything is wanting. His father was a successful businessman and young Benedict had a comfortable childhood. [49][citation not found], Arnold spent several months recovering from his injuries. Benedict Arnold Is America's Most Famous Traitor. His chaplain Rev. One critic said that he was a "mean mercenary, who, having adopted a cause for the sake of plunder, quits it when convicted of that charge". betrayal. 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. [43], Arnold arrived in Schuyler's camp at Fort Edward, New York, on July 24. Some theatrical treatments of the 19th century explored his duplicity, seeking to understand rather than demonize it. Later he became infamous for being a traitor, fighting for the British. Arnold mingled with Loyalist sympathizers in Philadelphia and married into a Loyalist family when he wedded Peggy Shippen. Only action by Arnold's superior at Ticonderoga prevented his own arrest on countercharges leveled by Hazen. His subordinates, some long-time associates, grumbled about Arnold's unnecessary distribution of supplies and eventually concluded that he was selling them on the black market for personal gain. My family have voted conservative in most elections. Benedict Arnold, (born January 14, 1741, Norwich, Connecticut [U.S.]died June 14, 1801, London, England), patriot officer who served the cause of the American Revolution until 1779, when he shifted his allegiance to the British. What does it mean to call someone a Benedict Arnold? When American leaders discovered the plot, Arnold fled. Name: Ethan Allen; Birth . S T I L L W A T E R, N.Y., June 14, 2001 -- Benedict Arnold, America's most infamous. 8. Congress restored Arnold's command seniority in response to his valor at Saratoga. He later said in his own defense that he was loyal to his true beliefs, yet he lied at the same time by insisting that Peggy was totally innocent and ignorant of his plans. The Hudson River Chain today in George Athan Billias, ed., This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 10:05. 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. This was the last straw. [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. These letters were delivered by Samuel Wallis, another Philadelphia businessman who spied for the British, rather than by Stansbury. Arnold escaped; Andr was hanged. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and had placed him in command of West Point in New York. 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. Again he tried to resign, but in July he accepted a government order to help stem the British advance into upper New York. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Arnold purchased large tracts of land in the Maugerville area, and acquired city lots in Saint John and Fredericton. His father was arrested on several occasions for public drunkenness, was refused communion by his church, and died in 1761. [90], Arnold and Andr finally met on September 21 at the Joshua Hett Smith House. From there, he was ordered to Vermont where he met with Ethan Allen. A colonial resident by birth, Arnold made his living as a merchant before joining the American military to defend against the British. [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. Among others, he shared the name with his father and. Arnold returned to England in 1791, but he left to spend several years privateering in the West Indies before permanently settling in London. The prisoner was dressed in miltary uniform. Unable to obtain a regular commission in the British army, he later pursued various business ventures, including land speculation in Canada. The fort was finally captured by the British in 1759. Arnold commanded the army only until May 20, when Lord Cornwallis arrived with the southern army and took over. The band played a funeral march. [22], The Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 severely curtailed mercantile trade in the colonies. 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. Together, they won the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, America's first victory in the Revolutionary War. The fourth niche is pointedly empty. His father was also called Benedict Arnold and his mother's name was Hannah Waterman King. 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. To raise money, he violated several state and military regulations, arousing the suspicions and, finally, the denunciations of Pennsylvanias supreme executive council. [38], General Washington assigned Arnold to the defense of Rhode Island following the British seizure of Newport in December 1776, where the militia were too poorly equipped to even consider an attack on the British. Benedict Arnold's name has become infamous for his treacherous acts regarding the fort at West Point, which he was in command of, and his very name has even become a synonym for either treason or betrayal. 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. [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. 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 . You may think it was odd that parents would name their newborn . Things Trump will never be. Through the early morning hours of Sept. 22, 1780 the two plotted. [103], Washington remained calm when he was presented with evidence of Arnold's treason. 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. Benedict Arnold is an American Revolutionary War General who is known for being the best American Strategist during the war. Arnold resented this affront, and only Washingtons personal persuasion kept him from resigning. (Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't count; he's British.) At critical moments Arnold inspired the Patriots with his grit and determination and earned the admiration of George Washington. [103] He had suffered from gout since 1775,[124] and the condition attacked his unwounded leg to the point where he was unable to go to sea. 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