Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) was an early American hero of the Revolutionary War (1775-83) who later became one of the most infamous traitors in U.S. history 35 notes Apr 4th, 2020. Meet the woman known to historians simply as "Agent 355." From the original pencil sketch by Major John André, in the possession of Edward Shippen, Esq., Philadelphia" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Her name was Sybil Ludington, and she was the 16-year-old daughter of an American colonel. Sara was fiercely devoted to her only son, and wielded an ironclad grip over pretty much every aspect of his domestic life. ET. Indeed, Clausen would to some extent be influenced by Impressionism. Some historians believe that Peggy Shippen instigated the correspondence between Arnold and André and sent military secrets to the British before her wedding. The newlyweds moved to Montgomery, Al., where the promising new pastor soon found himself in the middle of the Montgomery bus boycott. Though parted, they wrote each other secretly through the lines, at great risk to Peggy, directing the letters through a third party. The messages that they exchanged were sometimes transmitted through Peggy's actions; letters written in her hand also include coded communications written by Benedict Arnold in invisible ink. Peggy was initially welcomed warmly in England, as was her husband; she was presented at court to the queen on February 10, 1782 by Lady Amherst. And André met the fate he dreaded —shameful death by hanging. “This book has taught me more about our history than any I’ve read in years. When someone says the name Benedict Arnold, the word traitor immediately comes to mind. Sound like a good match? She died in 1804, having borne five children who survived infancy. Peggy Shippen, wife of the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, conspired with her husband to undermine the American colonists’ fight for independence from Great Britain. Shippen was born into a prominent Philadelphia family with Loyalist tendencies. Prior to her marriage to Benedict, she had been courted by the British officer John André. [21] She is also portrayed in the TV miniseries George Washington by Megan Gallagher, in the TV movie Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor by Flora Montgomery, and in the Revolutionary War drama Turn: Washington's Spies by Ksenia Solo. After Arnold’s flight to New York City, Peggy Shippen Arnold followed. Peggy Shippen and Daughter Daniel Gardner circa 1783-1789 During the Winter 1777–78 British occupation of Philadelphia, while Washington endured at Valley Forge, Andre wrote poetry for the Tory women, including Peggy Shippen, and took center stage in … Benedict Arnold, Peggy's husband, is revealed as a selfish, unscrupulous scoundrel to … On Thursday, September 21, 1780, General Arnold met with André on the shores of the Hudson River and gave him documents and maps about the fortifications at West Point in anticipation of the British capture of that site. [1] Two younger boys died in infancy, and Peggy grew up as the baby of the family and was the "family's darling". They claimed that Burr rode with Peggy Shippen Arnold in the carriage to Philadelphia after her stay with Mrs. Prevost, and that he fabricated the allegation because she refused advances that he made during the ride. Peggy played a role in the conspiracy which was exposed after British Major John André was arrested in September 1780 carrying documents concerning the planned surrender of the critical Continental Army base at West Point. Solo’s Peggy Shippen, described as the “most beautiful woman in America,” will be coming off the loss of her love, Major John André at the end of Season 3. I can only think of a few connections between them. Historians are unanimous in her complicity—and she accepted a reward for her services from the king. Courtesy of the Shippen family collection of prints and portraits [3127], Historical Society of Pennsylvania. A woman who influenced, and quite possibly determined his decision to switch sides. [18] Arnold biographer Willard Sterne Randall suggests that Burr's version has a more authentic ring to it: first, Burr waited until all were dead before it could be published; and second, Burr was not in the carriage on the ride to Philadelphia. Here's a look at some of these fascinating figures -- women who occupied a front row seat in their time periods but whose names have taken a back row seat to their husbands' legacies. El complot se descubrió, cuando en septiembre de 1780 André fue descubierto por milicianos estadounidenses mientras huia de vuelta a las filas británicas. ©2021 Verizon Media. Margaret Shippen was born July 11, 1760 in Philadelphia, the fourth and youngest daughter of Edward Shippen IV and Margaret Francis, the daughter of Tench Francis, Sr.; she was nicknamed "Peggy". Margaret "Peggy" Shippen (11 June 1760-24 August 1804) was the second wife of Benedict Arnold and a member of the prominent Tory Shippen family of Philadelphia.Shippen helped Major John Andre in convincing Arnold to defect to Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War, and both Arnold and Shippen moved to England at the war's end due to … Varina "Winnie" Davis was born during the Civil War, the daughter of Jefferson Davis. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. Zelda Fitzgerald Jonathan Odell and Joseph Stansbury.[9]. But when you think of the woman who wielded the most powerful influence on America's only four-term president, an unexpected name pops up as a very strong contender. [7][8] The couple did not live at Mount Pleasant, however, but rented it out as an income property. The Shippen family held many social gatherings at their home. She died in London in 1804, reportedly of cancer,[17] and was buried with her husband at St. Mary's Church in Battersea on August 25, 1804. On Saturday, September 23, André was arrested as he rode towards British territory, the documents were discovered, and the plot was exposed. Le 1 er juin, Arnold passe en cour martiale pour malfaisance. The AMC drama kicks off its fourth and final season on Saturday, June 17 at 9 p.m. At the beginning of Season 4, Peggy has crossed lines and joined her husband in New York. Peggy Shippen fulfilled her tragic destiny, joining Arnold in London and becoming a faded, querulous figure. "Agent 355" highest paid spy peggy shippen turn washington's spies turn amc major john andre american history jjfeild ksenia solo history my love Peggy and Andre I ship Andre and Peggy inspirationaldaily romance. After Arnold died in 1801, Peggy auctioned the contents of their home, the home itself, and many of her personal possessions to pay off his debts. [18], When these allegations were first published, the Shippen family countered with allegations of improper behavior on Burr's part. Eleanor, who once said that she never felt completely at home in "the big house" at Hyde Park, actually moved into a cottage nearby, relinquishing her role as "First Lady" of that house. Second wife of British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, Courtship and marriage to Benedict Arnold, Espionage between the Arnolds and Major John André, Benedict Arnold: The Aftermath of Treason, American Heritage Magazine, October 1967 Volume 18, Issue 6, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, "Historically Speaking: History shows Arnold's wife had role in treason", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peggy_Shippen&oldid=1000441743, British spies during the American Revolution, Loyalists in the American Revolution from Pennsylvania, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Edward Shippen Arnold (March 19, 1780 – December 13, 1813) Lieutenant, British Army in India; see. – 2 October 1780) was a major in the British Army and head of its Secret Service in America during the American Revolutionary War.He was hanged as a spy by the Continental Army for assisting Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender … Enraged by his treatment in Philadelphia, General Arnold resigned his command there in March 1779. Peggy steered Arnold toward betraying Washington and the Americans, though with disastrous results—Arnold was run out of Philadelphia and John André was hanged. Shippen had met British Major John André during the British occupation and had developed ways of maintaining contact with British soldiers across the battle lines. Margaret "Peggy" Shippen (July 11, 1760 – August 24, 1804)[1] was the highest-paid spy in the American Revolution,[2] and was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold. Possibly based on a brief discussion with her husband, she pretended hysteria in order to falsely convince General Washington and his staff that she had nothing to do with her husband's betrayal. Turn, puis Turn: Washington's Spies, est une série télévisée américaine en quarante épisodes de 42 minutes créée par Craig Silverstein et diffusée entre le 6 avril 2014 [1] et le 12 août 2017 sur AMC.Elle est inspirée du roman d’Alexander Rose, Washington’s Spies. The deal would allow the British to separate out New England from the dissident colonies. Hallays, André, 1859-1930. Thanks to Sybil's warning, the men marched and engaged the British at the Battle of Ridgefield. While in New York, Winnie also fell in love and became engaged. He was good looking, fluent in a number of languages, and he could sing, paint and write poetry. Arnold left for a business opportunity in 1784 and sent to Connecticut for his three sons Benedict, Richard, and Henry (by his first wife) to join him in Saint John, New Brunswick. They say that behind every great man is a great woman. And many of Zelda's short stories were published or co-published under her husband's name. Early in May he made secret overtures to British headquarters, and a year later he informed the British of a proposed American invasion of Canada. Peggy Shippen Arnold possessed all of the elements to make her a wildly intriguing character in our nation's history -- intelligence, beauty, wealth, powerful friends and admirers -- and yet, so few people know she existed. It was at these gatherings that Peggy first met John Andre. Arnold first dashed upstairs to Peggy, then fled, eventually reaching HMS Vulture on the Hudson River. Compelled to lie to each of them, Abigail grew uncomfortable with her role in the Ring , especially as she was the one who passed the secret that Benedict Arnold had turned traitor, contributing to John André's death. Sexism saved her: the authorities, assuming that she was an air-headed woman, incapable of independent thought or agency, reasoned that she simply did whatever her husband told her. This Major was caught by American forces and papers were found on him implicating Arnold in treason. Posted on June 1, 2014 Updated on June 1, 2014. Fearing for her safety, she traveled to Philadelphia to stay with her family. When the British took control of Philadelphia in 1777, Peggy met John André, a charming, well-educated British officer. While she spent her childhood in the South, working on behalf of wounded veterans of the Confederacy, Winnie moved with her mother to New York City as a young woman. Peggy served as Arnold’s accomplice in his famous act of treachery against the United States, not only helping him secure an audience with John André, a British officer she had befriended as a young woman in Philadelphia, but also flirting and cajoling Robert R. Livingston into securing Arnold’s strategic position at West Point. All rights reserved. And no, she was not some Bond Girl -- she was one of George Washington's most trusted spies during the American Revolution. She also played the innocent when asked about her husband, even though she knew his whereabouts. Arnold hired Joseph Stansbury to initiate communications in May 1779, offering his services to the British not long after he married. When France entered war in June 1778, André left Philadelphia with his fellow troops. What is known is just how crucial the information was that Agent 355 slipped out of the city and into the hands of the commander-in-chief -- information that helped the colonies defeat the world's most powerful military. According to Parton, she unburdened herself to Prevost, claiming that she "was heartily tired of all the theatricals she was exhibiting", referring to her histrionics at West Point. She also happened to ride about twice as far as Paul Revere. John André was captured by American forces and hung as a spy in October 1780. Sara Delano Roosevelt Poor John André. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. That same morning, General George Washington was planning to meet Arnold at his home, two miles south of West Point. Peggy Shippen Arnold (Ksenia Solo) On the show: Peggy relocated to London after the war with husband Benedict Arnold and was last seen visiting the grave of her one true love, Major John André … Major John Andre’s mysterious white braid. Peggy Shippen. James Parton, a biographer of Aaron Burr, published an account in the 19th century, after all of the principal actors had died, implying that Peggy Shippen Arnold had manipulated or persuaded Benedict to change sides. Her fiancé was a successful New York lawyer and graduate of Harvard University by the name of Alfred Wilkinson. These women, rather than being footnotes or supporting characters, were leading lady material. The British captured Philadelphia in September 1777, and the Shippen family held social gatherings at their home, in keeping with their political interests and stations. While Zelda has not exactly been forgotten by history, the picture of her life and legacy that persists today only captures one thin slice of the woman who lived beside and loved F. Scott Fitzgerald. Peggy Shippen Arnold, the captivating young socialite-turned-colonial-era conspirator, has slipped through the years with very few people aware of the central role she played in her husband's treachery and subsequent downfall. Everybody liked this guy. Turns out, however, this woman's interests were more far-reaching than just the latest cocktail party banter or London fashion styles. In fact, a young patriot from upstate New York was tapped for a dangerous midnight mission after the British raided Danbury, Conn., in April of 1777. The two, however, remained in touch. John André (2 May 1751 [unreliable source?] Setting out after dark in freezing late-winter rain, Sybil rode 40 miles, reportedly fending off a band of highway robbers along the way, to rouse the local militia. Peggy Shippen Arnold ... Major John André, the British spy who was apprehended with Arnold's documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. Benedict Arnold (* 14.Januar 1741 in Norwich, Colony of Connecticut; † 14. [1] She was born into a prominent Philadelphia family, which included two Philadelphia mayors and the founder of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. You guessed it -- Peggy's former lover, John André. So Arnold and Peggy married in April 1779, much to the chagrin of Reed and his followers. In describing Peggy Shippen Arnold, George Washington famously said that half of his men were "in love" with her. But she is embittered by losing André and being known as the wife of a traitor. Elle et Arnold se marient rapidement, le 8 avril. Two days later, when Arnold heard of Andre's arrest, he fled to the Vulture, a British warship on the Hudson River. Le 26 mars 1779, il rencontre Peggy Shippen, la fille du juge Edward Shippen, âgée de 18 ans. André was born and raised in luxury in London to wealthy Huguenots. However, very few know about the third character in the plot: a charming young woman who not only contributed to the betrayal, but also helped orchestrate it. In November 1780, her father escorted Peggy and her infant son to the shores of the Hudson where she boarded a boat to New York City to join Arnold. Some of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous lines are rumored to have been uttered by Zelda. Part of HuffPost Entertainment. Andre was an officer in General William Howe's command. 1800 - 1899. She met Arnold during his tenure as military commander of the city following the British withdrawal in 1778. He loved to paint the countryside and rural life in northwest Essex. Juni 1801 in London, England) war ursprünglich ein Rebell, der im Amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg zunächst als General in der Kontinentalarmee (Continental Army) der rebellierenden 13 Kolonien der nordamerikanischen Ostküste kämpfte. The biggest connection I can find is that they both knew Peggy Shippen. Reed saw it as Arnold playing up to the very loyalist types he wanted to punish. General Arnold systematically weakened the defenses of West Point with the intent of making it easier for the British to capture. In late summer of 1778,[6] Shippen met Arnold, the Continental military commander of Philadelphia, and he began courting her despite the differences between himself and Judge Shippen. The most glamorous story in the annals of American history is that of the lovely Well, none of these women stood behind their husbands; they stood right alongside them, and, in some cases, in front of them. American history little remembers the fact that Benedict Arnold even had a wife. But it seems that, though Benedict won her heart, he didn't change her loyalties. Peggy was a loyalist to England. "Margaret Shippen. John André was a spy. Arnold died in 1801, after which she had to settle his business affairs and pay off his debts. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he was the president of the Confederate States of America. There, Winnie, known for qualities such as intelligence, inquisitiveness, and a passion for civic service, wrote several books and worked for a newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer. John has been on the Liberty (Arnold’s ship when he attacked Fort Ti) once, but Benedict wasn’t there. As a newlywed, Peggy may have had contact with her "dear friend" Major André, who had become General Clinton's spy chief. In 1778, André invited Peggy to a masquerade ball in tribute to the end of General Howe's command. In 1777, when British captured Philadelphia, Shippen family held social gathering. However, her innocent act began unraveling when authorities found a letter from John Andre to Peggy, written from British-occupied New York, that indicated her complicity in her husband’s treason. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He never came home. He became a regular visitor to the Shippen household and favored Peggy among the girls. Though father Jefferson Davis gave his blessing to Winnie shortly before his death, the pair never married due to insurmountable social pressure. Their departure was unhappy, with mobs gathering on their property to protest against them and calling them "traitors". Pursuant to the secret communications with the British, he sought and obtained the command of West Point, a critical American defense post in the highlands of the Hudson River. The delay caused by her histrionics may have allowed Arnold time to escape, leaving Peggy with their infant son. John André (28) Peggy Shippen (26) Benjamin Tallmadge (22) Caleb Brewster (19) Benedict Arnold (17) Anna Strong (17) George Washington (16) Abraham Woodhull (15) Edmund Hewlett (15) John Graves Simcoe (14) Exclude Relationships John André/Peggy Shippen (38) What is interesting about the story of John Andre is that he didn’t die in battle; he was actually hanged as a spy by the Americans when he tried to gain their surrender at West Point, New York. Young, beautiful, ambitious, Peggy Shippen was inevitably drawn into the web of intrigue, of plots and counter-plots woven by Major John Andre, the man she loved, and by Colonel Aaron Burr, his adversary. She and Arnold also had close friends who were either actively Loyalist or sympathetic to that cause. [18] According to Burr's notes, Shippen Arnold "was disgusted with the American cause" and "through unceasing perseverance, she had ultimately brought the general into an arrangement to surrender West Point". However, very few know about the third character in the plot: a charming young woman who not only contributed to the betrayal, but also helped orchestrate it. He admired the naturalism of Bastien-Lepage, and he would write a long essay about him in André Theuriet’s memoir; he praised him while seeing a limitation in his “literal representation” of nature. Most people are, more or less, familiar with the infamous Revolutionary War General. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. Described as a person of disarming wit and beguiling charm, Agent 355 seems to have vanished at some point shortly before the end of the American Revolution. Not when the groom comes from a prominent family of northern abolitionists, and the bride grew up with the nickname "The Daughter of the Confederacy." As a result, many of the landmark historical events of Roosevelt's life and presidency were discussed under her roof, including parts of the New Deal, the escalating World War in Europe, and plans for America's involvement. Queen Charlotte awarded her an annuity of 100 pound sterling for the maintenance of her children, including those not yet born. British Major John Andre was an extremely popular man. André ... which he eventually cut off and gave as a keepsake to Peggy Shippen, the Philadelphia socialite he’d hoped to marry. For a time, André dated Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a prominent Philadelphia loyalist. While researching for The Traitor's Wife, my novel on Benedict and Peggy Arnold and their attempt to end the American Revolution, I discovered that there was much more to the infamous tale than just one man's decision to turn traitor. While Benedict Arnold is the best-known traitor in American history, Arnold’s British confidant and accomplice in the plot to turn the American garrison at West Point over to the British, Major John André is less well known. When she was not spending time as a socialite in British-occupied Manhattan (or maybe even when she was), Agent 355 was a member of America's first, elite spy ring, operating in and around the critical harbor city. On Monday, September 25, Arnold received a note announcing André's capture and possession of treasonous papers and maps. Shippen is also the subject of three historical novels: Peggy by Lois Duncan (1970), Finishing Becca by Ann Rinaldi (1994), and The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki (2014). That's right. André was a British Major at the time of the American Revolution, taking part in his army’s occupations of Philadelphia and New York. Paul Revere wasn't the only colonial hero to take a midnight ride through dangerous territory to warn of the coming British army. Abigail found herself at the opposite extreme in Season 3, carrying secret messages between John André and Peggy Shippen in Philadelphia. Peggy in turn felt attracted to this man who was twice her age. He began to court her. Her family in Philadelphia denied everything. And for many writers, Peggy took over and played the role of Eve feeding the great hero Benedict Arnold the poison fruit. That led the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania to banish her from Philadelphia. Peggy Shippen tuvo un papel importante en la trama. At 17 years old, Peggy was the right age to attend the many balls and parties thrown by the British Army officers, and she earned a reputation for being beautiful, vivacious, and intelligent. [16] Peggy sailed to Saint John to join her husband in 1787, leaving her two older sons with a private family in London; in New Brunswick, Peggy gave birth to son George in 1787; their last child William Fitch was born in 1794 after their return to London. To this day, Agent 355 is the only member of Washington's Culper Spy network whose identity remains unknown. Peggy Shippen had seven children with Benedict Arnold, of whom five survived to adulthood: Peggy Shippen is portrayed by Erin McGathy and Winona Ryder in the Drunk History episode on Philadelphia. They were on opposing sides of the war. That same day, he wrote this letter to Washington, begging help for his wife, the young and beautiful Margaret ("Peggy") Shippen Arnold (1760-1804). We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. These women were everything from writers and artists to political thinkers, human rights activists and pioneers of cultural change. The Spell of the Heart of France: The Towns, Villages and Chateaus about Paris (English) (as Author) Hall, Basil, 1788-1844. At one of these gatherings after the British took control of Philadelphia, Peggy met Major John André, an officer under the command of General Howe. Shortly after, Arnold sent her father a letter asking for her hand, but Shippen was skeptical of Arnold due to Arnold's legal problems. Perhaps the most notable liaison of Peggy’s teenage years was the one she had with Major John André, a British officer who, like her, seemed to break hearts wherever he went. Peggy had a good friend. Their friendship became the foundation for the treason for which Peggy Shippen’s husband, Benedict Arnold, became infamous. A handful of powerful women left their marks during Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidency -- First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Labor Secretary Frances Perkins being two such figures. When her husband was assassinated in April of 1968, the young widow and mother of four stepped right into the role of "First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement," fearlessly championing the mission she and her husband had helped to launch. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we bring you a Cliveden romantic interlude… Margaret “Peggy” Chew (1760-1824) was only 17 years old when Captain John André asked her to be his date to the hottest party in occupied Philadelphia: the Mischianza.The Mischianza was General William Howe’s farewell sendoff attended by British military elites and Philadelphia socialites. Arnold escaped to New York City and Peggy followed. Randall also notes that ample further evidence has since come to light showing that Peggy Shippen Arnold played an active role in the conspiracy. https://www.sunsigns.org/famousbirthdays/d/profile/peggy-shippen Peggy married Benedict, a widower with three children, on April 8, 1779. While en route to Philadelphia from West Point in 1780, Peggy Shippen Arnold visited with Prevost at Paramus, New Jersey. A Patriot's History of the United States should be required reading for all Americans.”--Glenn Beck A welcome, refreshing, and solid contribution to relearning what we have forgotten and remembering why this nation is … They were married in the Shippen townhouse on Fourth Street on April 8, 1779, and Arnold began conspiring with the British to change sides soon after. Many also know about Arnold's co-conspirator, Major John André, the British spy who was apprehended with Arnold's documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. Sophia Matilda Arnold (July 28, 1785 – June 10, 1828) Died in Sudbury, England. In 1779, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania had brought eight formal charges against Arnold for corruption and malfeasance with the money of the federal and state governments, and he was subsequently convicted on two relatively minor counts.