The name Benedict Arnold resonates throughout American history, not as a hero, but as the quintessential traitor of the American Revolution. His life story is a complex tapestry of daring military leadership, unyielding ambition, and ultimate betrayal, making him one of the most controversial figures in the founding of the United States.
Early Life and Rise to Prominence
Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1741, to Benedict Arnold III and Hannah Waterman King Arnold. He was the great-grandson of a Rhode Island governor, indicating a family background of some distinction. Despite being one of six children, only he and his sister Hannah survived to adulthood, with his other siblings succumbing to yellow fever in their early years. His family’s once-prosperous standing began to decline after the death of his siblings, as his father developed a drinking problem, which ultimately prevented young Arnold from attending Yale College as planned. At the age of 14, with his father’s health and financial stability faltering, Arnold’s mother secured an apprenticeship for him with her cousins, Daniel and Joshua Lathrop, successful apothecaries and general merchants in Norwich. This seven-year apprenticeship laid the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial spirit.
During the French and Indian War, a young Arnold twice enlisted in the New York Militia but deserted both times, compelled by family pressure to complete his apprenticeship. His bond with his mother was strong, and her death in 1759 deeply affected him. His father’s alcoholism worsened, leaving Arnold responsible for supporting his father and younger sister. Following his father’s death in 1761, Arnold moved with his sister to New Haven, Connecticut, where he established his own store. Displaying remarkable business acumen, he quickly became one of the most successful merchants on the coast, overseeing ships that navigated trade routes from the Caribbean to Canada. In 1767, he married Margaret Mansfield, and together they had three sons.
From Patriot to General: Arnold’s Early Military Exploits
When the American Revolution ignited in 1775, Benedict Arnold was a thriving Atlantic merchant. He swiftly joined the burgeoning American forces outside Boston, Massachusetts, where he quickly distinguished himself through acts of intelligence and profound bravery. His early leadership was evident when, as captain of his Connecticut Militia Company, he rode to Cambridge, Massachusetts, following the events at Lexington, proposing a bold counterattack against the British. His audacious plans bore fruit in 1775 when he received permission to lead a force to capture British Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Along the route, he famously encountered Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, who were on the same mission. After intense debate, they agreed to share command, and on May 3, they successfully captured the fort with minimal resistance. This success was followed by the capture of Crown Point and Fort George in the Champlain Valley by June 1775. Tragically, Arnold’s wife passed away that same month.
Despite these significant victories, Arnold felt unjustly sidelined from command of these crucial American outposts. His ambition, however, remained undeterred. In September 1775, he participated in the ambitious American invasion of Canada, acting under direct orders from General George Washington. Though the campaign to add a “Fourteenth Colony” ultimately failed after a desperate assault on Quebec, Arnold’s conduct was widely lauded. He served valiantly as a brilliant tactician and hero, even after sustaining a severe leg wound during the battle. For his exceptional service, he earned a promotion to the rank of brigadier general.
Unrecognized Valor and the Battles of Saratoga
The summer of 1776 once again highlighted Arnold’s strategic genius. He was tasked with commanding a new American Naval Fleet on Lake Champlain, with orders from General Horatio Gates to defend the area defensively. Upon discovering a British naval force led by Guy Carleton establishing itself at the lake’s northern end, Arnold decisively moved his fleet to Valcour Island in October. A multi-day naval engagement ensued. Though Arnold’s smaller, less-experienced fleet inflicted limited damage on the veteran British, he skillfully saved many of his men by strategically grounding and burning their ships. However, in Gates’ view, Arnold had disobeyed explicit orders by initiating an offensive maneuver, leading to further friction between them.
By 1777, Arnold was increasingly at odds with his superiors and Congress over perceived slights and unreceived promotions. Yet, this year also offered him opportunities to prove his worth. In August, General Philip Schuyler dispatched him to march west from Albany to relieve the besieged troops at Fort Schuyler, who faced an overwhelming force under British commander Barry St. Leger. Arnold masterfully turned St. Leger’s superior numbers against him by orchestrating a clever ruse: he blackmailed a Loyalist into spreading exaggerated rumors among St. Leger’s Native American allies about Arnold’s impending, massive arrival. The Native American allies consequently retreated, leaving St. Leger without crucial support and forcing his own withdrawal before Arnold even arrived on August 21.
Upon Arnold’s return to Albany, the Northern Army, now under General Gates’ command, was preparing for a defensive stand against General John Burgoyne near Stillwater, New York. Following the Battle of Freeman’s Farm and a heated argument with Gates regarding the strategy against the shaken British forces, Arnold was controversially relieved of command. Nevertheless, on October 7, when Burgoyne launched another attack closer to American lines, Arnold, defying Gates’ orders, rode onto the battlefield. He bravely led a decisive American charge that captured a vital enemy stronghold. This critical, albeit insubordinate, victory provided the Americans with the strategic advantage needed to compel a British surrender. During this engagement, Arnold was wounded in the same leg he had injured in Canada. Despite being scorned by Gates, he received official commendations from both Washington and Congress, was promoted to Major General, and sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to recover, as his injuries precluded him from field command.
The Seeds of Treason: Philadelphia and the West Point Plot
During his recuperation in Philadelphia, Benedict Arnold immersed himself in Loyalist society and soon married Peggy Shippen, a woman from a prominent Loyalist family. This marriage would introduce him to influential British commanders and further solidify his connections to the British cause. The couple eventually had four sons and a daughter. As accusations of his loyalties and conduct began to surface, Arnold requested a new command, one that would place him back in New York. In July 1780, General George Washington, who held Arnold in high esteem despite the controversies, granted him command of West Point. This well-fortified American stronghold along the Hudson River was a strategically vital position. Unbeknownst to Washington, Arnold had already begun to scheme, intending to surrender West Point to the British.
Arnold’s audacious plot to betray the fort was exposed in September 1780. Revolutionary militia captured British Major John Andre, who was carrying incriminating papers that detailed the scheme. The British had promised Arnold a substantial sum of £20,000 for the capture of West Point, which would have been a catastrophic blow to the American cause. Arnold managed to escape to British lines, but Major Andre was subsequently hanged as a spy. For his defection, the British rewarded Arnold with a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, a pension, and funds to compensate for lost property. He was given command of the American Legion, a unit composed of American Loyalists and deserters.
Serving the Crown: The Ultimate Betrayal
In the latter stages of the conflict, Arnold found himself leading British forces in battle against the very soldiers he had once commanded. This act cemented his reputation, making his name forever synonymous with treason and betrayal in the United States. The motivations behind his dramatic shift in allegiance remain a subject of intense historical debate and speculation, explored in countless books and analyses. Factors cited include accumulated grievances, perceived slights, financial desperation, and the influence of his Loyalist wife.
In the winter of 1782, Arnold and his family relocated to London, England. While he was favorably received by King George III and many Tories, he was largely scorned by the Whigs and most British Army officers. In 1787, seeking new opportunities, he moved to Canada to establish a merchant business with his sons Richard and Henry. However, he faced significant unpopularity there as well, leading him to return to London permanently in 1791.
Later Years, Death, and Enduring Legacy
Benedict Arnold’s health began to deteriorate in January 1801. He had suffered from gout since 1775, and the condition severely affected his unwounded leg, debilitating him and preventing him from going to sea. His other leg ached constantly, requiring him to use a cane for mobility. Diagnosed with dropsy by his physicians, a temporary improvement followed a visit to the countryside. He ultimately died after four days of delirium on June 14, 1801, at the age of 60. He was interred at St. Mary’s Church in Battersea, England, with a funeral procession consisting of “seven mourning coaches and four state carriages,” yet conspicuously devoid of military honors. Due to a clerical error in parish records, his remains were later removed to an unmarked mass grave during church renovations a century later, a final, unceremonious end for a man who once commanded armies.
Conclusion: The Traitor’s Stain on History
Soon after his betrayal became public, the name Benedict Arnold became an indelible mark of treason. Figures like Benjamin Franklin famously remarked, “Judas sold only one man, Arnold, three million,” while Alexander Scammell described his actions as “black as hell.” In his hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, “the traitor” was scrawled next to his birth record, and all his family’s gravestones, save his mother’s, were destroyed—a testament to the depth of public scorn. His story serves as a profound cautionary tale in American history, illustrating the tragic downfall of a brilliant military mind whose ambition and grievances led him to commit the ultimate act of betrayal against the nation he once fought to create.
