Look at the eerie similarities–

Benedict Arnold’s name is synonymous with treason in American history, but his story is far more complex than a simple act of betrayal. He was a highly effective and courageous military leader for the American cause before his dramatic defection to the British. Dramatically changed sides.

Early Life and Revolutionary War Service

Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1741, Benedict Arnold came from a prominent family that later faced financial hardship. He was an apprentice in an apothecary business and also served in the militia during the French and Indian War. Later, he became a prosperous trader and, as a prominent businessman, came into conflict with British acts like the Stamp Act and Sugar Act, leading him to join the Sons of Liberty.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Arnold quickly distinguished himself as a bold and capable military officer. His early actions included:

• Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (1775): Collaborating with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, Arnold played a key role in seizing this vital British garrison, securing much-needed cannon and supplies for the Continental Army.
• Invasion of Canada and Battle of Quebec (1775-1776): Arnold led a grueling march through the Maine wilderness to attack Quebec, where he was severely wounded but displayed immense bravery. Invasion of Canada?
• Battle of Valcour Island (1776): He commanded an American flotilla on Lake Champlain, delaying a British invasion from Canada and buying crucial time for the Continental Army.
• Battles of Saratoga (1777): Despite being sidelined by his superior, General Horatio Gates, Arnold defied orders and led crucial charges that were instrumental in the American victory, where he was again severely wounded in his leg. This victory was a turning point in the war, securing the French alliance.

Reasons for His Betrayal

Despite his significant contributions and personal sacrifices, Arnold developed a deep sense of resentment and frustration with the Continental Congress and some fellow officers. Several factors contributed to his decision to switch sides:

• Lack of Recognition and Promotion: Arnold felt repeatedly passed over for promotions and credit for his accomplishments. Despite his heroism, he was often overlooked in favor of others, and his seniority was not always restored after his battlefield injuries.
• Political Infighting and Accusations: Arnold had tumultuous relationships with other officers and faced accusations of misconduct and financial impropriety. While he was largely exonerated in a court-martial for some charges-(who was exonerated in two Impeachment Trials? And could Two Impeachment Trials cause an individual to Hate His Country? Flip to another side?), he was publicly reprimanded by George Washington, which was a significant blow to his pride.
• Financial Difficulties and Lavish Lifestyle: After being appointed military commander of Philadelphia, Arnold adopted a lavish lifestyle that he couldn’t afford. This led to substantial debt and accusations of using his position for personal gain, which were partially true.
• Influence of His Wife, Peggy Shippen: His second wife, Peggy Shippen, came from a wealthy Loyalist-sympathizing family in Philadelphia. She had contacts with British officers and is believed by some historians to have encouraged Arnold’s disillusionment with the American cause and pushed him towards treason, in part to maintain a high social standing and address their financial woes. Does someone have tremendous financial ties with Foreign Governments? Amazing Real Estate Deals taking place while in office?
• Pessimism about the American Cause: By 1778 and 1779, Arnold expressed disappointment and pessimism about the prospects of the United States, perhaps believing the war was unwinnable or that the Continental Congress was corrupt and incapable.
• Selfish Ambition: Many historians point to Arnold’s inherent ambition and desire for personal glory and wealth as a primary driver. He believed he would be more appreciated and rewarded by the British.

His treason was discovered in September 1780 when his British contact, Major John André, was captured with incriminating documents outlining Arnold’s plot to surrender the crucial American fort at West Point, New York, to the British for £20,000 and a British military commission. Arnold narrowly escaped capture and fled to British lines.

Praise by the British and Later Life

Upon his defection, Arnold was commissioned as a Brigadier General in the British Army. He led British forces in raids against American targets, including Richmond, Virginia, and New London, Connecticut, where he ordered the burning of the city and the killing of many of his former countrymen. If we have any Benedict Arnolds here in America, especially in Washington, and they defected to Russia or Saudi Arabia or UAE or Qatar, what would they become in those Countries

While he received the promised financial compensation and a commission, his reception among the British was ambivalent at best. While George III reportedly received him well, many British officers and society members viewed him with suspicion and scorn. They saw him as an opportunist and a mercenary who had betrayed his side for money, and his actions led to the execution of the popular Major André, making him “odious to loyalists.” (Odious to Veterans?) He was often regarded as untrustworthy and never fully accepted. He was blocked from taking up positions in the British army and the East India Company.

After the war, Arnold settled in London. He continued to engage in business ventures, including land speculation in Canada and privateering in the West Indies, but often faced difficulties and further controversy. He died in London in 1801, largely in obscurity and deep in debt, without military honors.

Statues or Praise in Europe

There is no known statue or widespread praise for Benedict Arnold in Europe or the UK in the conventional sense.

In the United States, his legacy is one of infamy and treason, with his name being synonymous with betrayal. Ironically, at the Saratoga National Historical Park in New York, there is a “Boot Monument” which commemorates the site where Arnold was wounded during the Battle of Saratoga. It features a boot and a two-star epaulet, symbolizing a Major General, but it deliberately does not mention his name. The monument is a silent acknowledgment of his bravery and crucial contribution to the American victory before his defection, acknowledging his limb that fought for America.

In London, where he spent his final years, his grave in St. Mary’s Church, Battersea, was largely unloved for centuries. However, in recent decades, some American benefactors have funded a new headstone for his grave and a stained-glass window in the church. There is also a plaque at 62 Gloucester Place in London, where Arnold lived, which was erected by a British individual (not a relative) and identifies him as “Major General Benedict Arnold, American Patriot.” These are more recent, privately funded efforts, and do not represent widespread public praise or official British commemoration of Arnold. His name remains largely non-existent in the British public consciousness as a figure of praise.

“I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.“

Buy let’s solve a Mystery-or two-

• Who funded Benedict Arnold’s grave restoration St Mary’s Church Battersea?
• Who erected the plaque for Benedict Arnold at 62 Gloucester Place London?
• Benedict Arnold memorial London benefactors
• St. Mary’s Church Battersea Benedict Arnold stained glass window donors
• Who paid for Benedict Arnold’s new headstone in London? The individuals and groups responsible for the recent commemorations of Benedict Arnold in London are:
• New Headstone at St. Mary’s Church, Battersea (installed May 2004): This was funded by Bill Stanley of Norwich, Connecticut. He was a former state senator, president of the Norwich Historical Society, and a strong advocate for re-evaluating Arnold’s legacy. He spent £15,000 of his own money to get permission and install the granite headstone.
• Stained-Glass Window at St. Mary’s Church, Battersea (added between 1976 and 1982): This window was funded by Vincent Lindner of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, USA. He was the president of the 600-strong “Arnold Society” and inaugurated the monument in 1973.
• Plaque at 62 Gloucester Place, London (erected 1987): This plaque was erected by a British individual named Peter Arnold. The sources clarify that he is “not, apparently, a relation” to Benedict Arnold. He obtained permission from Westminster Council to install the plaque.

These efforts are indeed recent and privately funded, reflecting individual interests rather than widespread public or official British recognition of Benedict Arnold.