11. America’s Most Infamous Turncoat
American Revolutionary War General Benedict Arnold (1741 – 1801) is the most infamous turncoat in the history of the United States. Indeed, his name has become an epithet, synonymous with treason and betrayal. That was a dramatic turn from his early war career, when he had been a prominent Patriot hero. Arnold had been highly regarded in the fight against the British, and was perhaps the American side’s most capable combat leader. That all changed when a combination of resentments over slights, coupled with financial distress, led him to turn traitor. Before that, however, Arnold had provided valuable service to the Americans, and played a key role early in the war in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. He then led an expedition through extremely rough terrain in an attempt to capture Quebec.
