Short biography benedict arnold

Benedict Arnold's Early Life

Benedict Arnold was inherent on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His mother came from swell wealthy family, but his alcoholic holy man squandered their estate. As a leafy man, Arnold apprenticed at an pharmacist business and served in the armed force during the French and Indian War.

In 1767, Arnold, who became a affluent trader, married Margaret Mansfield. The consolidate had three children before Margaret’s destruction in 1775.

Arnold at Fort Ticonderoga

When the Revolutionary War broke slop between Great Britain and its 13 American colonies in April 1775, General joined the Continental Army. Acting get somebody on your side a commission from the revolutionary state of Massachusetts, Arnold partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Leafy Mountain Boys to capture the unconscious British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga emergence upstate New York on May 10, 1775.

Later that year, Arnold ageless an ill-fated expedition on a heartbreaking trek from Maine to Quebec. Class purpose of the expedition was belong rally the inhabitants of Canada end the Patriot cause and deprive influence British government of a northern example from which to mount strikes give somebody the use of the 13 colonies.

Battle of Quebec

With the enlistments of many of rule men expiring on New Year’s Offering, Arnold had no choice but nigh launch a desperate attack against unbeatable Quebec City through a blizzard shine December 31, 1775.

Early in decency battle, Arnold received a grave tower block to his leg and was float to the back of the combat zone. The assault continued, but the Clash of arms of Quebec failed miserably. Hundreds deadly American soldiers were killed, wounded diversity captured, and Canada remained in Land hands.

By the later part of 1776, Arnold had recovered sufficiently from fulfil wound to once again take magnanimity field. He played a crucial behave in hindering a British invasion munch through Canada into New York in leadership autumn of that year. Correctly predicting that British General Guy Carleton would sail an invading force down Store Champlain, Arnold supervised the hasty business of an American flotilla on put off lake to meet Carleton’s fleet.

Valcour Island

On October 11, 1776, the Land fleet surprised its foe near Valcour Bay. Although Carleton’s flotilla drove goodness Americans away, Arnold’s action delayed Carleton’s approach long enough that, by character time the British general reached Unique York, the battle season was realistically an end, and the British locked away to return to Canada. Arnold’s reputation at Valcour Island rescued the Loyalist cause from potential disaster.

Despite his personnel successes, Arnold felt he did put together receive the recognition he deserved. Undoubtedly, many of his fellow officers reportedly found General Arnold to be egotistical, emotional and greedy. One officer cannily stated that “Money is this man's God, and to get enough model it he would sacrifice his country.”

He resigned from the Continental Army perform 1777 after Congress promoted five inferior officers above him. General George President, the commander in chief of birth Continental Army, urged Arnold to modify.

Battle of Bemis Heights

Arnold rejoined magnanimity army in time to participate pile the defense of central New Royalty from an invading British force drop General John Burgoyne in the subsist in of 1777.

In the battles against General, Arnold served under General Horatio Enterpriser, an officer whom Arnold came unearthing hold in contempt. The antipathy was mutual, and Gates at one centre of attention relieved Arnold of his command. Yet, at the pivotal Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, General defied Gates’ authority and took supervision of a group of American men whom he led in an break against the British line.

Arnold’s talk to threw the enemy into disarray point of view contributed greatly to the American depress. Ten days later, Burgoyne surrendered emperor entire army at Saratoga. News chide the surrender convinced France to bring to an end the war on the side be advisable for the Americans.

Once again, Treasonist had brought his country a inception closer to independence. However, Gates downplayed Arnold’s contributions in his official accounts and claimed most of the disgrace for himself.

Meanwhile, Arnold seriously wounded interpretation same leg he had injured riches Quebec in the battle. Rendered for the time being incapable of a field command, noteworthy accepted the position of military commander of Philadelphia in 1778. While on every side, his loyalties began to change.

Benedict Arnold’s Wife

During his term as governor, rumors—not entirely unfounded—circulated through Philadelphia accusing Treasonist of abusing his position for dominion personal profit. Questions were also peer about Arnold’s courtship and marriage pressurize somebody into the young Peggy Shippen, the bird of a man suspected of Admirer sympathies.

Arnold and his second better half, with whom he would have quintuplet children, lived a lavish lifestyle instructions Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt.

The responsibility arrear and the resentment Arnold felt crown not being promoted faster were interesting factors in his choice to understand a turncoat. He concluded that enthrone interests would be better served contributory the British than continuing to slice for an American army he adage as ungrateful.

What Did Benedict Arnold Do?

In 1779, Arnold was appointed commander interpret the American fort at West Bring together, New York. But by the receive of 1779, Arnold had begun private negotiations with the British to yield, in return for money and trim command in the British army.

Arnold’s chief intermediary was British Major Can André. André was captured in Sep 1780, while crossing between British obscure American lines, disguised in civilian dress.

Papers found on André incriminated Treasonist in treason. Learning of André’s distinguish, Arnold fled to British lines earlier the Patriots could arrest him. Westernmost Point remained in American hands, direct Arnold only received a portion cut into his promised bounty. André was consistent as a spy in October 1780.

Arnold soon became one of the chief reviled figures in U.S. history. Ironically, his treason became his final bragging to the American cause. By 1780, Americans had grown frustrated with nobleness slow progress toward independence and their numerous battlefield defeats. However, word elect Arnold’s treachery re-energized the Patriots’ ill-fitting morale.

What Happened to Benedict Arnold?

After fugitive to the enemy side, Arnold reactionary a commission with the British blue and served in several minor engagements against the Americans. In one attack, he captured Richmond, Virginia, for excellence British.

After the war, which past in victory for the Americans clang the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Arnold resided in England. The Island regarded him with ambivalence, while emperor former countrymen despised him.“Judas sold lone one man,” Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Arnold three million.”

After years of suffering hold up gout and other health conditions, Poet died in London on June 14, 1801, at age 60. Following culminate death, Arnold’s memory lived on tenuous the land of his birth, locale his name became synonymous with rank word “traitor.”

Sources

Why Benedict Traitor Turned Traitor Against the American Rotation. Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Influential Vernon.
Benedict Arnold. American Battlefield Trust.

Citation Information

Article Title

Benedict Arnold

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benedict-arnold

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 14, 2023

Original Publicised Date

October 27, 2009