Benedict Arnold (congressman)
Encyclopedia
Benedict Arnold was an American
politician from New York
, and a member of the House of Representatives
. He was born in Amsterdam, Tryon County, New York
(after 1784 Montgomery County, New York
).
He was named in honor of the famous Benedict Arnold
. This later seemed quite surprising, as the American Revolutionary War
was still raging in 1780. However, at the time the elder Arnold was still seen as a hero of the United States
, stemming from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga
. His plans to betray the fort of West Point
were uncovered on September 23 of that same year—less than two weeks before Arnold was born. Either the news took longer than this to make its way upstate
, or his parents were of Loyalist
sympathy; the latter seems unlikely, however, as they stayed in the area until their deaths in 1815 and seemed to have remained quite wealthy despite widespread emigration of loyalists to Canada
.
Despite this unpromising start, Arnold prospered; he attended the local schools and became a successful merchant
. He owned large stretches of land, and was able to dedicate much time to philanthropy
.
As was common at the time for local magnates
, he entered politics for a short period; in 1816 and 1817, he served as a member of the New York State Assembly
. Later, in 1828, he was elected to the Twenty-first United States Congress; he did not seek re-election after his two-year term elapsed. He later became president of the village board of trustees, and retired from his business pursuits, remaining in rural New York until his death. He is buried in Green Hill Cemetery
, Amsterdam, New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and a member of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was born in Amsterdam, Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...
(after 1784 Montgomery County, New York
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
).
He was named in honor of the famous Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. This later seemed quite surprising, as the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
was still raging in 1780. However, at the time the elder Arnold was still seen as a hero of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, stemming from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States...
. His plans to betray the fort of West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
were uncovered on September 23 of that same year—less than two weeks before Arnold was born. Either the news took longer than this to make its way upstate
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, or his parents were of Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
sympathy; the latter seems unlikely, however, as they stayed in the area until their deaths in 1815 and seemed to have remained quite wealthy despite widespread emigration of loyalists to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Despite this unpromising start, Arnold prospered; he attended the local schools and became a successful merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
. He owned large stretches of land, and was able to dedicate much time to philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
.
As was common at the time for local magnates
Business magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
, he entered politics for a short period; in 1816 and 1817, he served as a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. Later, in 1828, he was elected to the Twenty-first United States Congress; he did not seek re-election after his two-year term elapsed. He later became president of the village board of trustees, and retired from his business pursuits, remaining in rural New York until his death. He is buried in Green Hill Cemetery
Green Hill Cemetery (Amsterdam, New York)
Green Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at Amsterdam in Montgomery County, New York. It was established in 1858. It encompasses 14,860 individual interments marked by imposing mausolea, elaborate monuments, family plots, decorative markers, and simple stones...
, Amsterdam, New York
Amsterdam (city), New York
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands....
.
External links
- Profile page for Benedict Arnold on the Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
web site