FAMOUS SPY NUMBER SIX: Major John Andre

FAMOUS SPY NUMBER SIX

Major John Andre

1750 - 1780

Spied For: The British

John Andre was the only British officer hanged as a spy during the American Revolutionary war. At the age of 20 he joined the British Army and moved to North America to play his part in controlling the colonists.

In 1779 he was placed in charge of the British Secret Intelligence. He plotted with American General Benedict Arnold. Arnold commanded West Point. He agreed to surrender it to the British for £20,000. This move would allow the British to cut New England off from the rest of the rebellious colonies.

Andre armed with documents supplied by Arnold, began his spy trip. He was stopped and questioned at gunpoint and admitted he was British. The colonists searched him and found the  forged papers. He was put on trial and found guilty of being behind American lines “under a feigned name and in a disguised habit”, and that:

“Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the British army, ought to be considered as a Spy from the enemy, and that agreeable to the law and usage of nations, it is their opinion, he ought to suffer death.”

He was hanged as a spy October 2, 1780.