what happened to benedict arnold
Rachel Hernandez
Updated on June 01, 2026
At the British surrender at Yorktown, Benedict Arnold was burned in effigy and his name has since become synonymous with traitor. The British didn’t treat him very well after the war either. After prevailing in a libel action, he was awarded only a nominal amount because his reputation was already so tarnished.
What happened to Benedict Arnold and his wife?
On May 10, 1775, Arnold partnered with frontiersman Ethan Allen to seize New York’s Fort Ticonderoga. Returning home after the battle, he learned that his wife had died earlier in the month.
What exactly did Benedict Arnold do?
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. Thereafter his name became an epithet for traitor in the United States.
What was Benedict Arnold’s betrayal?
While Arnold’s betrayal was clear—he offered the British seizure of the military fortress at West Point, NY, in exchange for 10,000 pounds and a British military commission—what led up to that moment of betrayal is more complicated and less political than is often taught.
Who is the biggest traitor in American history?
Benedict Arnold Is America’s Most Famous Traitor. But You Probably Don’t Know His Whole Story. Illustration showing Major General Benedict Arnold (1741 – 1801) rallying the American troops and performing heroically during the Battle of Saratoga, during the American Revolutionary War, Oct. 7, 1777.
Was Benedict Arnold a large man?
And at 5’9″ that Benedict Arnold was above average height for a British-American of his time, not “middling” or “something below the middle height.” There were several Benedict Arnolds in Connecticut and Rhode Island at the time, named after a seventeenth-century governor.
Why did Benedict Arnold get hung?
Historians have several theories about why Arnold became a traitor: greed; mounting debt; resentment of other officers; a hatred of the Continental Congress; and a desire for the colonies to remain under British rule.
What did Marquis de Lafayette do?
Back in France, Lafayette helped launch the French Revolution in 1789. He served in the National Assembly and drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man. He proudly sent the key to the Bastille to Washington, who was serving as the President of the United States.
What happened to Margaret Mansfield?
In June 1775, Margaret died suddenly. She was 34 years old. His sister Hannah took on the task of raising the children, and, in mourning, Arnold threw himself into the cause of the Revolution.
What happened at the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
The Americans lost 49 men and 41 were wounded. With these battles, the American Revolution had officially begun. Shots had been fired, thousands of militiamen surrounded Boston, and the Americans felt they had pushed back the British giving them the courage to continue to unite and fight.
When was Fort Crown Point seized?
In May 1775, the British-held Ticonderoga and nearby Fort Crown Point had been seized by colonial forces under Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) and Ethan Allen (1738-89). After a challenging journey across snowy terrain, the armaments, including more than 50 cannon, reached the Boston area in late January 1776.
Who caught Benedict Arnold?
Only a few weeks after learning of Arnold’s treason, General George Washington enlisted a Continental Army sergeant major named John Champe in a daring mission to capture him from behind enemy lines.
Who committed treason in the Revolutionary War?
On September 21, 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold meets with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army.
What was Benedict Arnold’s legacy?
Arnold would continue to serve in the military, only now he served the British against his former countrymen. In December, he led a force of British troops into Virginia, capturing Richmond and laying waste to the countryside. Arnold would die in 1801, leaving behind him a legacy as America’s most notorious traitor.