{"id":27952,"date":"2026-09-24T01:18:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T01:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=27952"},"modified":"2026-09-24T01:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T01:18:28","slug":"benedict-arnold-was-once-trusted-by-george-washington-before-switching-allegiance-to-britain-and-dying-in-england-in-1801-the-revolutionary-war-generals-crypt-is-now-part-of-a-kindergarten-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=27952","title":{"rendered":"Benedict Arnold was once trusted by George Washington before switching allegiance to Britain and dying in England in 1801; the Revolutionary War general\u2019s crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134445636,imgsize-117624,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-of-a-kindergarten-classroom.jpg\" alt=\"Benedict Arnold was once trusted by George Washington before switching allegiance to Britain and dying in England in 1801; the Revolutionary War general\u2019s crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom\" title=\"Benedict Arnold went from George Washington\u2019s trusted general to British ally; his crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom. (Photo: Wiki\/St Mary's, Battersea)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Benedict Arnold went from George Washington\u2019s trusted general to British ally; his crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom. (Photo: Wiki\/St Mary's, Battersea)\">Benedict Arnold went from George Washington\u2019s trusted general to British ally; his crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom. (Photo: Wiki\/St Mary&#8217;s, Battersea)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Benedict Arnold, one of the most controversial figures of the American Revolutionary War, ended his life far removed from the country where he had once earned the trust of General George Washington.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>Arnold had already experienced considerable hardship before joining the Continental Army. A businessman before his military career, he lost his shipping business during the Revolutionary War and was wounded in combat twice. Yet his military achievements eventually saw him rise to the rank of major general and become a trusted officer under Washington.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>His final resting place, however, is an unusual one. Arnold was buried in the crypt of St. <!-- -->Mary\u2019s Church in Battersea, England, in 1801. Today, that crypt forms part of the church&#8217;s basement and is used by a private kindergarten program.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>From Washington\u2019s trusted officer to British ally<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Arnold&#8217;s fortunes appeared to improve after British forces withdrew from Philadelphia. Washington appointed him military commander of the city, giving Arnold an opportunity to rebuild his personal life.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>A businessman at heart, Arnold began pursuing commercial interests in Philadelphia, although his business activities drew criticism from some at the time. The position nevertheless allowed him to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>Philadelphia also played an important role in Arnold&#8217;s personal life. It was there that he met Peggy Shippen, whom he later married. Shippen sympathized with the British cause and was subsequently suspected of being a British spy, according to the Museum of the American Revolution.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Historians continue to debate the extent to which Shippen influenced Arnold&#8217;s decision to change allegiance. <!-- -->What is established is that Arnold eventually defected to the British side.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Arnold left for England and never returned<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Arnold&#8217;s switch of allegiance transformed his place in American history. He left New York for England in 1781 and never returned to the United States.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>Although the British military took Arnold in, he did not achieve the same authority or success he had enjoyed while serving the American revolutionary cause. He nevertheless established a life in Britain with his family and was respected in some British circles.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>Arnold died in England on June 14, 1801, aged 60.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>He was buried in the crypt of St. Mary&#8217;s Church in Battersea. His wife, Peggy, and later their daughter were also buried there.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>His crypt is now part of a classroom<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u200bBenedict Arnold\u2019s historic crypt in London now forms part of a kindergarten classroom, more than two centuries after his death.\" msid=\"134445640\" imgsize=\"1080452\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"Benedict Arnold\u2019s historic crypt in London now forms part of a kindergarten classroom, more than two centuries after his death. (Photo: St Mary's, Battersea)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-1080452,msid-134445640\/benedict-arnolds-historic-crypt-in-london-now-forms-part-of-a-kindergarten-classroom-more-than-two-centuries-after-his-death.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Benedict Arnold\u2019s historic crypt in London now forms part of a kindergarten classroom, more than two centuries after his death. (Photo: St Mary&#8217;s, Battersea)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>The crypt eventually became part of the church&#8217;s basement. The space is now rented by a private kindergarten and serves as a classroom, as well as a meeting space when school is not in session.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/>The setting offers an unusual final chapter for a man whose name remains deeply connected to the American Revolution and the concept of betrayal.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"41\"\/>A belated effort was eventually made to give Arnold a more visible historical memorial.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"43\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>$15,000 headstone installed more than 200 years after his death<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>In 2004, former Connecticut state senator Bill Stanley sought to honor Arnold, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Stanley paid $15,000 for a granite headstone bearing an epitaph acknowledging Arnold&#8217;s complicated military history, according to Smithsonian Magazine.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>The inscription describes Arnold as a \u201cSometime General in the Army of George Washington\u201d and adds that the two nations he served during their conflict had ultimately united in lasting friendship.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/us\/benedict-arnold-was-once-trusted-by-george-washington-before-switching-allegiance-to-britain-and-dying-in-england-in-1801-the-revolutionary-war-generals-crypt-is-now-part-of-a-kindergarten-classroom\/articleshow\/134445627.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Benedict Arnold went from George Washington\u2019s trusted general to British ally; his crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom. (Photo: Wiki\/St Mary&#8217;s, Battersea) Benedict Arnold, one of the most controversial figures of the American Revolutionary War, ended his life far removed from the country where he had once earned the trust of General George [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o-150x150.avif","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o-300x169.avif","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Benedict Arnold went from George Washington\u2019s trusted general to British ally; his crypt is now part of a kindergarten classroom. (Photo: Wiki\/St Mary&#8217;s, Battersea) Benedict Arnold, one of the most controversial figures of the American Revolutionary War, ended his life far removed from the country where he had once earned the trust of General George [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o.avif",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/benedict-arnold-went-from-george-washingtons-trusted-general-to-british-ally-his-crypt-is-now-part-o-150x150.avif",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}