As an accomplished international agent, London-born John André ticked every box. He was suave, highly intelligent, unflappable and fluent in four languages. During the American Revolution, he was put in charge of the British Secret Service in North America and his biggest asset was the senior American officer Benedict Arnold who was then in command of the Patriot’s garrison at West Point, NY. André was a Renaissance man - he could paint, draw, sing, write verse and was much in demand by society hostesses. André’s career was incandescent. A commissioned officer at 20, he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1775, he was captured by the Patriots and held at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but got the freedom of the town when he promised not to flee. When the British occupied Philadelphia, he lived in Ben Franklin’s house and removed valuable items, including an oil portrait of the Founding Father. By 1779, André took over secret communications with Arnold, who was preparing to surrender the West Point stronghold to the British, and it was in this capacity he’d make the mistake that cost him his life.
© 2024 John Oliver
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