Peggy Shippen: The Mastermind Behind Benedict Arnold's Defection. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Peggy Shippen, the ambitious wife of Benedict Arnold, is portrayed as a central architect of his betrayal who likely encouraged him to monetize his position b

Peggy Shippen: The Mastermind Behind Benedict Arnold's Defection. Guest: Professor Richard Bell. Peggy Shippen, the ambitious wife of Benedict Arnold, is portrayed as a central architect of his betrayal who likely encouraged him to monetize his position by selling loyalty to the British. When the plot was discovered, she feigned "hysteria" to successfully deflect suspicion from herself, convincing George Washington and his aides of her innocence. After the war, the Arnolds lived in exile in London, where they were disdained as traitors by British society. Her story illustrates that the Revolution was a complex civil war involving influential female actors who navigated political intrigue. 7
1821