Where did the phrase Benedict Arnold come from?
The idiom Benedict Arnold is derived from a very real person who was a general for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold was born in the Connecticut Colony in 1741 and fought in the French and Indian War for a very brief period when still in his teens.
What is Benedict Arnold known for?
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 after he switched sides and fought for the British.
Did Benedict Arnold betray the US?
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.
What does it mean to be called a Benedict Arnold?
traitor
“Benedict Arnold” is an epithet for “traitor” in the United States; calling a person a “Benedict Arnold” implies that they are a traitor.
Who is the biggest traitor in US history?
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold, the American general during the Revolutionary War who betrayed his country and became synonymous with the word “traitor,” was born on January 14, 1741.
What does the name Arnold mean?
Arnold is a masculine German, Dutch and English given name. It is composed of the Germanic elements arn “eagle” and wald “power, brightness”.
Was Benedict Arnold betrayal justified?
In the eyes of Arnold, he thought that this was perfectly reasonable, even telling General Washington about it in a message he sent. Even so, his betrayal was not justifiable.
What did Paul Revere actually yell?
He is thought to have shouted along the way “The British are coming, the British are coming!” though the anecdotal story has no real basis in history.
What did Benedict Arnold do in 1741?
Benedict Arnold (14 January 1741 [ O.S. 3 January 1740] [1] [a] – June 14, 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defecting to the British side of the conflict in 1780.
What does “Benedict Arnold” mean?
What does it mean to call someone a “Benedict Arnold”? Shortly after the Revolutionary War broke out in April of 1775, Benedict Arnold set out as captain of the Connecticut Militia Company to join the Continental Army in Massachusetts.
How did Benedict Arnold get the name traitor?
Last Updated: Oct 22, 2019 See Article History. 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.
Did General Arnold deserve the recognition he was given?
Yet Arnold never received the recognition he thought he deserved. In 1779, he entered into secret negotiations with the British, agreeing to turn over the U.S. post at West Point in return for money and a command in the British army. The plot was discovered, but Arnold escaped to British lines.