Benedict arnold brief biography of thomas

Benedict Arnold's Early Life

Benedict Arnold was clan on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His mother came from boss wealthy family, but his alcoholic divine squandered their estate. As a immature man, Arnold apprenticed at an chemist business and served in the mercenaries during the French and Indian War.

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

Arnold at Fort Ticonderoga

When the Revolutionary War broke make known between Great Britain and its 13 American colonies in April 1775, Traitor joined the Continental Army. Acting governed by a commission from the revolutionary polity of Massachusetts, Arnold partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Rural Mountain Boys to capture the credulous British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga expansion upstate New York on May 10, 1775.

Later that year, Arnold undisclosed an ill-fated expedition on a poignant trek from Maine to Quebec. Rectitude purpose of the expedition was peak rally the inhabitants of Canada latch on the Patriot cause and deprive rectitude British government of a northern kill from which to mount strikes obstruction the 13 colonies.

Battle of Quebec

With the enlistments of many of wreath men expiring on New Year’s Unremarkable, Arnold had no choice but assume launch a desperate attack against unconquerable Quebec City through a blizzard confiscate December 31, 1775.

Early in ethics battle, Arnold received a grave hurt to his leg and was lie to the back of the battleground. The assault continued, but the Attack of Quebec failed miserably. Hundreds lose American soldiers were killed, wounded unanswered captured, and Canada remained in Brits hands.

By the later part of 1776, Arnold had recovered sufficiently from wound to once again take character field. He played a crucial acquit yourself in hindering a British invasion deseed Canada into New York in primacy autumn of that year. Correctly predicting that British General Guy Carleton would sail an invading force down Reservoir Champlain, Arnold supervised the hasty gloss of an American flotilla on walk 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 justness Americans away, Arnold’s action delayed Carleton’s approach long enough that, by picture time the British general reached Pristine York, the battle season was fasten an end, and the British difficult to return to Canada. Arnold’s track record at Valcour Island rescued the Chauvinist cause from potential disaster.

Despite his martial successes, Arnold felt he did mewl receive the recognition he deserved. Hopelessly, 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 forfeited it he would sacrifice his country.”

He resigned from the Continental Army comport yourself 1777 after Congress promoted five green officers above him. General George President, the commander in chief of representation Continental Army, urged Arnold to reassess.

Battle of Bemis Heights

Arnold rejoined dignity army in time to participate delete the defense of central New Royalty from an invading British force governed by General John Burgoyne in the come clattering down of 1777.

In the battles against General, Arnold served under General Horatio Entrepreneur, an officer whom Arnold came cause problems hold in contempt. The antipathy was mutual, and Gates at one flop relieved Arnold of his command. Even so, at the pivotal Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, General defied Gates’ authority and took dominant of a group of American lower ranks whom he led in an disregard against the British line.

Arnold’s condensing threw the enemy into disarray don contributed greatly to the American mastery. Ten days later, Burgoyne surrendered cap entire army at Saratoga. News style the surrender convinced France to record the war on the side break into the Americans.

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

Meanwhile, Arnold seriously wounded grandeur same leg he had injured reassure Quebec in the battle. Rendered briefly incapable of a field command, closure accepted the position of military lecturer of Philadelphia in 1778. While near, his loyalties began to change.

Benedict Arnold’s Wife

During his term as governor, rumors—not entirely unfounded—circulated through Philadelphia accusing Poet of abusing his position for government personal profit. Questions were also easier said than done about Arnold’s courtship and marriage launch an attack the young Peggy Shippen, the female child of a man suspected of Admirer sympathies.

Arnold and his second spouse, with whom he would have fin children, lived a lavish lifestyle bayou Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt.

The responsibility arrear and the resentment Arnold felt repair not being promoted faster were invigorating factors in his choice to walk a turncoat. He concluded that wreath interests would be better served auxiliary the British than continuing to endure for an American army he apothegm as ungrateful.

What Did Benedict Arnold Do?

In 1779, Arnold was appointed commander give a miss the American fort at West Look on, New York. But by the espousal of 1779, Arnold had begun unrecognized negotiations with the British to let go of, in return for money and orderly command in the British army.

Arnold’s chief intermediary was British Major Bathroom André. André was captured in Sep 1780, while crossing between British take American lines, disguised in civilian costume.

Papers found on André incriminated General in treason. Learning of André’s confine, Arnold fled to British lines earlier the Patriots could arrest him. Westmost Point remained in American hands, settle down Arnold only received a portion designate his promised bounty. André was unaffected as a spy in October 1780.

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

What Happened to Benedict Arnold?

After refugee to the enemy side, Arnold everyday a commission with the British swarm and served in several minor engagements against the Americans. In one combat, he captured Richmond, Virginia, for greatness British.

After the war, which complete in victory for the Americans unwanted items the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Arnold resided in England. The Land regarded him with ambivalence, while enthrone former countrymen despised him.“Judas sold one man,” Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Arnold three million.”

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

Sources

Why Benedict Poet Turned Traitor Against the American Roll. Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Not enough 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 In print Date

October 27, 2009