Benedict Arnold from patriot to spy.......

Benedict Arnold is a name synonymous with being the most famous traitor in American history, but why?

Well for starters in 1779, he was assisting the British in the American Revolutionary War for well-over 16 months before his espionage activities were discovered.  Turns out Arnold was passing along secrets to the British, specifically Captain John Andre (British spy chief).  Arnold's wife, Peggy, helped out with this using codes and invisible ink.  These letters detailed all sorts of goodies for the British including troop positions, the

number of troops, and how many supplies the colonist were in possession of.

The second scandal Arnold was involved with was in 1780 when Arnold became commander of Fort West Point.  He basically handed over control of West Point to the British (Captain Andre) by agreeing to surrender the fort for 20,000 pounds.

The Americans captured Captain Andre, and they found the detailed papers outlining the plot to take over West Point in his possession.  Andre was hanged for his crimes.  With his co-conspirator, Andre, deceased, Arnold quickly fled and hid out with the British.  Arnold was granted land in Canada by the British government.

After the war, Arnold moved to England where he set up a merchant trading business with the West Indies.  He had an unsavory business ethic to say the least. It was said that no one single person in the world trusted him.  He spent the rest of his life in London where he died in 1801 at the age of 60.  He
left behind a massive amount of debt.  It was thought his death was related to issues involving an anxiety/nervous disorder.  I guess with all that debt and lying it would be hard not to be nervous and stressed out.
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