One of the most famous names in history is Benedict Arnold, a leader of the American Revolutionary War, known for being the "traitor of his country". Yet, without his courageous and heroic actions in fighting the British, Americans may not have achieved their freedom. In Saratoga, New York, a monument is dedicated to Arnold's contribution to the victory of the Battle of Saratoga; however, there is no name on the monument. Biographer James Kirby Martin once said, “The tragedy of Benedict Arnold is that his incredible deeds…were swept away and essentially forgotten.” Although Benedict Arnold was once a respected and admirable leader of Americans, after the Revolutionary War he was branded a selfish and immoral traitor and his efforts for the success of Americans were often overlooked or forgotten. Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut to wealthy merchants. When the family business failed due to his father's drinking problem, Arnold had to drop out of school at the age of fourteen. Arnold was sent away to learn to be a shop apprentice. When he was twenty-one, Arnold completed his apprenticeship and went to New Haven, Connecticut to open his own pharmacy. He soon fell into debt and was forced to close his shop. He then became a sea captain for the next ten years. He purchased three ships and started a trading business, trading horses from Canada for rum and molasses in the West Indies. He was eventually able to reopen his store in New Haven and became a member of the New Haven Masonic Lodge. However, British laws began to impose heavy taxes on the colonists to pay for the colonial war. As a result, Arnold, like many other traders, began smuggling goods on his shit...... middle of paper ......m, if he was a greedy traitor who stabbed his friends in the back and abandoned people who believed in him.Works Cited1. Gunderson, Jessica. Benedict Arnold: Battlefield Hero or Selfish Traitor? Minnesota: Fact Finder Capstone Press, 2003.2. Wade, Mary Dodson. Benedetto Arnoldo. United States of America: Franklin Watts, 1994.3. Dell, Pamela. Benedict Arnold: from patriot to traitor. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books, 2005.4. Gaines, Ann Graham. Benedict Arnold: patriot or traitor? Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Enslow Publishers Inc., 2001.5. Lutz, Norma Jean. Benedict Arnold: traitor to the cause. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001.6. Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI) "Biography for Children: Benedict Arnold." Ducksters. June 2014. Web. (Accessed 12 June 2014). .