Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold
Engraving of Arnold, by H.B. Hall, after John Trumbull
Born	(1741-01-14)January 14, 1741 Norwich, Colony of Connecticut, British America
Died	June 14, 1801(1801-06-14) (aged 60) London, United Kingdom
Buried at	St. Mary's Church Battersea, London, United Kingdom
Allegiance	United States of America (1775–1780)  Kingdom of Great Britain / British Empire (1780–1781)
Service/branch	Colonial militia Continental Army  British Army
Years of service	Colonial militia: 1757 (Connecticut), 1775 (Connecticut, Massachusetts) Continental Army (United Colonies/United States): 1775–1780 British Army: 1780–1781
Rank	Major General (Continental Army) Brigadier General (British Army)
Commands held	Fort Ticonderoga (June 1775) Quebec City (January–April 1776 siege) Montreal (April–June 1776) Lake Champlain (August–October 1776) Philadelphia (June 1778–April 1780) West Point (August–September 1780) American Legion (September 1780–1781)
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Continental Army: Capture of Fort Ticonderoga Arnold's expedition to Quebec Battle of Quebec Battle of The Cedars Battle of Valcour Island Battle of Ridgefield Relief of Fort Stanwix Battles of Saratoga British Army Raid of Richmond Battle of Blandford Battle of Groton Heights
Awards	Boot Monument
Signature

American Revolutionary War Continental Army:

British Army

This monument was erected under the patronage of the State of Connecticut in the 55th year of the Independence of the U.S.A. in memory of the brave patriots massacred at Fort Griswold near this spot on the 6th of Sept. AD 1781, when the British, under the command of the Traitor Benedict Arnold, burnt the towns of New London and Groton and spread desolation and woe throughout the region.

Benedict Arnold (January 14, 1741 [O.S. January 3, 1740] – June 14, 1801) was a general during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental Army but defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fortifications at West Point, New York (future site of the U.S. Military Academy after 1802) overlooking the cliffs at the Hudson River (upriver from British-occupied New York City), and planned to surrender it to the British forces. The plan was exposed in September 1780, and he was commissioned into the British Army as a brigadier general.

Arnold was born in Connecticut and was a merchant operating ships on the Atlantic Ocean when the war broke out in 1775. He joined the growing army outside Boston and distinguished himself through acts of intelligence and bravery. His actions included the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, defensive and delaying tactics at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776 (allowing American forces time to prepare New York's defenses), the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut (after which he was promoted to major general), operations in relief of the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and key actions during the pivotal Battles of Saratoga in 1777, in which he suffered leg injuries that halted his combat career for several years.