Why is Peggy Shippen Arnold in the history books?

Answer 1

Because it was Peggy who persuaded Arnold to abandon the American cause and defect to the British side; his first overtures to them were just one week after their wedding. And his contact was Major John Andre, a former suitor of Peggy's. One historian said,"Had Arnold died at Saratoga, his name & reputation today would be scarcely less honoured than George Washington himself." The extent of Peggy's complicity was unknown until about 25 years ago when her friend Theodora Prevost's (Aaron Burr's wife) letters were published. Peggy was a master of duplicity and staged this hilarious scene at West Point pretending to be insane the morning their plot was discovered and Arnold had to flee to a British ship to avoid capture. Washington totally bought it and indignantly added 'Betraying his trusting young wife' to Arnold's list of crimes.