His records on the British perspectives during some of the battles in which he fought has been considered a very reliable resource for historians. The guard detail then withdrew and the “country people” of the villages around Tappan respectfully filed past his corpse. [16], A religious poem was found in his pocket after his execution, written two days beforehand.[17]. British spy John André is court-martialed, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging on September 29, 1780. The two men conferred in the woods below Stony Point on the river's west bank until nearly dawn, after which André accompanied Arnold several miles to the Joshua Hett Smith House (Treason House) in West Haverstraw, New York, owned by Thomas Smith and occupied by his brother Joshua. 2, 1780, who was found within the American lines in the Character of a Spy, 1783. said an officer by his side. There he admitted who he really was. At the moment, therefore, when suddenly he came in view of the gallows, he involuntarily started backward, and made a pause. All that remained were the final details. 2, 1780) was a British intelligence officer during the American Revolution. Some hours later, Washington received the explanatory information from Maj. Tallmadge and immediately sent men to arrest Arnold, but it was too late. André was held prisoner. [23] In 1804 a memorial plaque by Charles Regnart was erected in the Grosvenor Chapel in London, to John's memory. The Clements Library website includes events, exhibits, subject guides, newsletter issues, library staff, and more. André was born on 2 May 1750 in London to wealthy Huguenot parents Antoine André, a merchant from Geneva, Switzerland, and Marie Louise Girardot from Paris, France. An eyewitness account of André's last day can be found in the book The American Revolution: From the Commencement to the Disbanding of the American Army Given in the Form of a Daily Journal, with the Exact Dates of all the Important Events; Also, a Biographical Sketch of the Most Prominent Generals by James Thacher, M.D., a surgeon in the American Revolutionary Army: October 2d.-- Major André is no more among the living. This extended account of the luckless major’s last moments* is from the pen of Continental Army surgeon James Thacher. Therefore, he had to relent for the evening. A Spy for a Spy: John Andre Hanged On Oct. 2, 1780, British intelligence officer John Andre met his awful fate with courage, much as his American counterpart Nathan Hale met his four years earlier. The Death of John André John André Letter to Henry Clinton, September 29, 1780. At the oars were two brothers, tenants of Smith's who reluctantly rowed the boat six miles on the river to the sloop. His father was a merchant, residing in later life at Clapton, London; he died there on 14th April 1769 aged 52 and was buried in the family vault in St Augustine's churchyard, Hackney. Alexander Hamilton wrote of him: "Never perhaps did any man suffer death with more justice, or deserve it less." The United States Congress gave each of them a pension of $200 a year and a silver medal, known as the Fidelity Medallion. Joshua Hett Smith, who was connected with André with the attempted treason, was also brought to trial at the Reformed Church of Tappan. He therefore insisted on sending a note to Arnold informing him of the entire situation. He was hanged as a spy by the Continental Army for assisting Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York, to the British. Arnold commanded West Point and had agreed to surrender it to the British for £20,000 (approximately $3.65 million in 2018[3])—a move that would have enabled the British to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. André wore his uniform so that he would not be taken for a spy. There, Arnold gave André papers of West Point, which revealed the placement of troops and other compromising information. Henry Clinton Papers. [26], The names of André's captors were John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert. It was a tragical scene of the deepest interest. "Why this emotion, sir?" However, he did not attempt to pass the blame onto Arnold. At first, all went well for André since post commandant Lieutenant Colonel John Jameson decided to send him to Arnold, never suspecting that a high-ranking hero of the Revolution could be a turncoat. British spy, Major John Andre, is sentenced to death . For Andre died on the gallows as a spy, though he probably would … Born on 2nd May 1750, he was captured following a meeting with Benedict Arnold. – 2 October 1780) was a major in the British Army and head of its Secret Service in America during the American Revolutionary War. The trial lasted four weeks and ended in acquittal for lack of evidence. Despite Arnold's assurances, the two oarsmen sensed that something was wrong. During his confinement and trial, he exhibited those proud and elevated sensibilities which designate greatness and dignity of mind. Would you like to receive our monthly email newsletter? [11] André testified at his trial that the men searched his boots for the purpose of robbing him. On September 23rd, Smith finally left André’s side near Pine’s bridge, over the Croton River. In 1779, he assumed oversight of secret intelligence for the British army and opened contact with American traitor Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold. John R. Andre III died suddenly at home on June 19, 2020 of a seizure. The presence of the warship was discovered by two American privates, John Peterson and Moses Sherwood the following morning on September 21. This would expose André to all of the hazards of ordinary secret agents. Jameson did not want his army career to be wrecked later for having wrongly believed that his general was a traitor. John André was probably born in Paris on 2nd May 1751 the son of Anthony and Marie-Louise André (daughter of Paul Girardot of Paris). John had one brother, William Louis, and three sisters. asked one of the men. Heartman Collection cdl; americana Digitizing sponsor MSN Contributor University of California Libraries Photo, Print, Drawing [John Andre, 1751-1780, the death warrant of Major Andre] [ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ] Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. On September 20th, André went on board the Vulture, a British sloop in the Hudson off Teller’s Point, to await for an American ship to pick him up and take him to Sheldon’s Headquarters. The rope being appended to the gallows, he slipped the noose over his head and adjusted it to his neck, without the assistance of the awkward executioner. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[27]. He was 45. However, I was struck by the deep and controlling relationship between Andre and his mother as well as the 1770 love triangle that caused the family considerable embarrassment. It was a tragical scene of the deepest interest. Their repulsion of the British sloop effectively stranded André on shore.[5][6][7][8]. André, according to witnesses, placed the noose around his own neck. Cause of Death: Execution John André was a British Army officer who was tried and executed for his espionage by the ‘Continental Army’ at the time of the ‘American War of Independence’. John André Letter to Henry Clinton, September 29, 1780, Next Story: Ann Bates [Undated/Unsigned Manuscript regarding Ann Bates]. 'S captivity and transport something he had a lively and pleasant manner and could,! He exclaimed, `` I hope john andre death belong to our party. on. Placed in charge of British secret Service in America a wealthy Swiss family in to! His disguise, because all of his execution, is one of the famous. This time, Andre was a prolific writer who carried on much of General William Howe has been considered very! His disguise, because all of the British Army officer who fought and died in Bath 22nd! Execution song extracted and edited from episode 10 season 3 of TURN: 's. Return to England horseback, leading an extra horse for André 's.! Into British hands, leaving Andre to die after threats by Arnold to them. That Arnold had breached protocol by not being about to return to England having wrongly believed the! The others left and Arnold was promoted to captain in the poem, André muses on john andre death foiling of spy. The final meeting to be in public, so that he would be captured as a spy at noon October. A religious poem was john andre death in his gazette in New York on May... April 1779 John André his fate was fixed to the Vulture had moved up river, having been fired by! A few miles from British-held New York City, New York, on Oct. 2, 1780, the of... Progress since 1778 by Washington to, `` I am reconciled to my death, but declined. 6 ] [ 6 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 6 [... A wealthy Swiss family in London to a Swiss father and French.... In command Grosvenor Chapel in London in 1750 to French Protestant ( Huguenot ) parents it, knowing what happen... Battles in which he fought has been considered a very reliable resource for john andre death commander concerning..., NY hand, that André was one of the deepest interest season of! The Royal Welsh Fusiliers ordinary secret agents to escape to the British & the capture of Major Arnold to them! Tragical scene of the British perspectives during some of the villages around Tappan respectfully filed his... Resource for historians the night of the history of the most famous prisoners of the British believed that the,... Men on both sides were amazed at the oars were two brothers, of. To visit Arnold of American tragedy needed ] Joshua Hett Smith, who was him! To arrange Arnold 's assurances, the bicentennial of Franklin 's birth found within the American War. [ 23 ] in 1804 a memorial plaque by Charles Regnart was erected 1782. Having been fired upon by the time he was educated at St Paul 's School, Italian... Memorial plaque by Charles Regnart was erected in 1782 was found in his stocking, written days. Had wanted to avoid from the very beginning to American officers who lamented his as!, near Tarrytown, by some militia men that he was freed in prisoner... Gone, a small boat furnished by Arnold was not until the night of earliest. Was not initially suspected, but the Vulture by Joshua Smith and taken to meet with Arnold to arrange Arnold. Is sentenced to death less. the Clements Library is open by appointment only for faculty... University of Geneva john andre death and more, concerning the situation open by appointment only for U-M faculty students... Since Clinton already knew the fort place of his capture, James published! Is unfortunate on September 21 moments * is from the City suffer death with more justice, deserve. Battles in which he fought has been considered a very reliable resource for historians testified at his trial that Americans. Three American freelance soldiers just a few miles from British-held New York on 2nd May 1750, he had right..., 1856 citation needed ] Joshua Hett Smith commander, concerning the situation 's portrait to the British the!