(1741-1801) Connecticut-born soldier who rose to the rank of Major General in the Continental Army after participating in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, the [Battle of Ridgefield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ridgefield) and the [Battles of Saratoga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Saratoga) in 1777. Arnold was injured at Saratoga, which sidelined him from field command and limited his chances of promotion. In his frustration, Arnold became more open to the arguments of [[Loyalist|Loyalists]] in his wife's family and ultimately defected to the British side, where he was commissioned a Brigadier General. Arnold led British troops against Richmond Virginia (causing governor [[Reading Notes/Thomas Jefferson]] to flee the city) and New London Connecticut, which he burned to the ground. After a few more battles in Connecticut he retired with his wife to London in 1782 where he was well received by King George III. In 1787 he moved to Canada to run a mercantile business with his two sons. Finding himself very unpopular in Canada, Arnold returned to London in 1791.