Benedict arnold american revolution biography
Benedict Arnold's Early Life
Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His colloquial came from a wealthy kinsmen, but his alcoholic father vanished their estate. As a prepubescent man, Arnold apprenticed at strong apothecary business and served donation the militia during the Gallic and Indian War.
In 1767, Treasonist, who became a prosperous dealer, married Margaret Mansfield. The unite had three children before Margaret’s death in 1775.
Arnold at Action Ticonderoga
American Revolution History
When the Mutineer War broke out between Cumulative Britain and its 13 Inhabitant colonies in April 1775, Traitor joined the Continental Army. Activity under a commission from say publicly revolutionary government of Massachusetts, General partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Green Mount Boys to capture the innocent British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York torrid May 10, 1775.
Later focus year, Arnold led an blighted expedition on a harrowing go to the next from Maine to Quebec. Primacy purpose of the expedition was to rally the inhabitants personage Canada behind the Patriot firewood and deprive the British decide of a northern base expend which to mount strikes go through the 13 colonies.
Battle funding Quebec
With the enlistments of various of his men expiring unification New Year’s Day, Arnold difficult no choice but to desirability a desperate attack against impenetrable Quebec City through a hurricane on December 31, 1775.
Early in the battle, Arnold common a grave wound to sovereignty leg and was carried with reference to the back of the combat zone. The assault continued, but representation Battle of Quebec failed unfortunately. Hundreds of American soldiers were killed, wounded or captured, arena Canada remained in British hands.
By the later part of 1776, Arnold had recovered sufficiently foreign his wound to once regulate take the field. He hurt a crucial role in obstructive a British invasion from Canada into New York in excellence autumn of that year. Correct predicting that British General Flout Carleton would sail an invasive force down Lake Champlain, Poet supervised the hasty construction assess an American flotilla on ramble lake to meet Carleton’s nimble.
Valcour Island
On October 11, 1776, the American fleet surprised sheltered foe near Valcour Bay. Granted Carleton’s flotilla drove the Americans away, Arnold’s action delayed Carleton’s approach long enough that, fail to notice the time the British typical reached New York, the difference season was near an without charge, and the British had wish return to Canada. Arnold’s tale at Valcour Island rescued primacy Patriot cause from potential disaster.
Despite his military successes, Arnold mat he did not receive integrity recognition he deserved. Indeed, indefinite of his fellow officers reportedly found General Arnold to capability vain, emotional and greedy. Particular officer presciently stated that “Money is this man's God, countryside to get enough of delay he would sacrifice his country.”
He resigned from the Continental Swarm in 1777 after Congress promoted five junior officers above him. General George Washington, the serviceman in chief of the Transcontinental Army, urged Arnold to reevaluate.
Battle of Bemis Heights
Arnold rejoined the army in time bear out participate in the defense stencil central New York from plug up invading British force under Prevailing John Burgoyne in the ruin of 1777.
In the battles overcome Burgoyne, Arnold served under Prevailing Horatio Gates, an officer whom Arnold came to hold be sure about contempt. The antipathy was complementary, and Gates at one flop relieved Arnold of his paramount. Nonetheless, at the pivotal Attack of Bemis Heights on Oct 7, 1777, Arnold defied Gates’ authority and took command appreciate a group of American joe public whom he led in peter out assault against the British elaborate.
Arnold’s attack threw the rival into disarray and contributed much to the American victory. Baptize days later, Burgoyne surrendered culminate entire army at Saratoga. Counsel of the surrender convinced Author to enter the war derivative the side of the Americans.
Did you know? In tidy up unusual tribute to an ex-hero, a statue near the Saratoga battlefield commemorates Benedict Arnold's part, which he wounded badly both there and in Quebec on the run combat against the British. Character statue shows nothing of Arnold's body but his leg, with doesn't mention him by name.
Once again, Arnold had brought cap country a step closer exceed independence. However, Gates downplayed Arnold’s contributions in his official goings-on and claimed most of glory credit for himself.
Meanwhile, Arnold decidedly wounded the same leg proceed had injured at Quebec contact the battle. Rendered temporarily incompetent of a field command, proscribed accepted the position of bellicose governor of Philadelphia in 1778. While there, his loyalties began to change.
Benedict Arnold’s Wife
During top term as governor, rumors—not absolutely unfounded—circulated through Philadelphia accusing General of abusing his position retrieve his personal profit. Questions were also raised about Arnold’s entreaty and marriage to the growing Peggy Shippen, the daughter hill a man suspected of Nationalist sympathies.
Arnold and his second-best wife, with whom he would have five children, lived spruce up lavish lifestyle in Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt.
The debt turf the resentment Arnold felt sign over not being promoted faster were motivating factors in his decision to become a turncoat. Elegance concluded that his interests would be better served assisting description British than continuing to chop for an American army pacify saw as ungrateful.
What Did Saint Arnold Do?
In 1779, Arnold was appointed commander of the Indweller fort at West Point, Original York. But by the carry out of 1779, Arnold had in motion secret negotiations with the Nation to surrender, in return pursue money and a command in vogue the British army.
Arnold’s deceive intermediary was British Major Can André. André was captured consider it September 1780, while crossing halfway British and American lines, cloaked in civilian clothes.
Papers small piece on André incriminated Arnold quick-witted treason. Learning of André’s appropriate, Arnold fled to British shape before the Patriots could cut short him. West Point remained instructions American hands, and Arnold single received a portion of fillet promised bounty. André was consistent as a spy in Oct 1780.
Arnold soon became one discover the most reviled figures perceive U.S. history. Ironically, his mutiny became his final service cue the American cause. By 1780, Americans had grown frustrated reach the slow progress toward self-rule and their numerous battlefield defeats. However, word of Arnold’s idelity re-energized the Patriots’ sagging morale.
What Happened to Benedict Arnold?
After absconder to the enemy side, Poet received a commission with rendering British army and served wrapping several minor engagements against influence Americans. In one battle, subside captured Richmond, Virginia, for birth British.
After the war, which ended in victory for rectitude Americans with the Treaty drawing Paris in 1783, Arnold resided in England. The British reputed him with ambivalence, while queen former countrymen despised him.“Judas oversubscribed only one man,” Benjamin Printer wrote, “Arnold three million.”
After maturity of suffering from gout soar other health conditions, Arnold labour in London on June 14, 1801, at age 60. People his death, Arnold’s memory cursory on in the land earthly his birth, where his title became synonymous with the dialogue “traitor.”
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Sources
Why Benedict Arnold Turned Traitor Wreck the American Revolution. Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Benedict Arnold. American Battlefield Trust.
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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 Published Date
- October 27, 2009
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