# The Biographical Dictionary of America/André, John

​ANDRÉ, John, soldier, was born either in London or at Southampton, England, in 1751, the son of a Genevese merchant. He was carefully educated and at the age of sixteen entered his father's counting-room. On March 4, 1771 he entered the British army as second lieutenant, was on a leave of absence in Germany nearly two years, and in 1774 re-joined his regiment in America. In November, 1775, he was taken a prisoner-of-war at St. John's, and was detained at Lancaster and Carlisle, Pa., until the latter part of 1776, when he was exchanged, going at once to New York and receiving promotion to the rank of captain. In 1777 he was aide-de-camp to Major-General Grey, serving thus on the expedition to Philadelphia, and Brandywine and Germantown. In September, 1778, he accompanied Gen. Grey in the New Bedford expedition, and was sent back to Sir Henry Clinton as despatch bearer. On Gen. Grey's return to England, André was appointed aide-de-camp to Clinton with the rank of major. While the British army was in winter quarters in New York city Benedict Arnold wrote a letter to Sir Henry Clinton pretending dissatisfaction with the actions of the patriots. The letter was signed "Gustavus," and Clinton handed it to André, giving him charge of the matter. André replied over the signature "John Anderson," and a correspondence ensued. In the latter part of 1779 Lord Rawdon was dismissed from the office of adjutant-general, and André was chosen his successor. In December he accompanied the expedition against Charleston, and shortly after the surrender of the Americans in May, André returned to New York, renewing his correspondence with Arnold. This was continued during the summer, and on the night of September 21 André and Arnold met at Stony Point, and preparations were definitely made for the surrender of West Point to the British. André was provided with papers relating to the condition of the works at West Point, plans of the fortress, and the number of men stationed therein. But the sloop-of-war Vulture, in which he had been taken to Arnold, had been compelled to sail down river under fire from the American outposts, and André was forced to proceed by land. The papers were concealed in his boots, and André, disguised in civilian's clothing furnished by Joshua Smith, a farmer, attempted to pass the American lines by means of a passport furnished by Arnold. He had nearly reached Tarrytown when a party of three militiamen emerged from the bushes, where they had been concealed, and challenged him. The first man was John Paulding, who had only four days before escaped from British captivity, and who was wearing a British uniform. This deceived André, who, supposing himself among friends, expressed his desire to reach New York. He was thereupon arrested and searched, the papers being found in his boots. Large bribes were offered by him to be allowed to pass, but the captors carried him to Lieutenant-Colonel Jameson, who commanded the outposts. Arnold was notified of the capture and barely succeeded in escaping to the British lines. On Sept. 29, 1780, André was tried before a board of distinguished military officers, and was sentenced to be hanged as a spy. The British endeavored in every possible way to obtain his release or exchange, but in vain. The young officer met his fate with an equanimity which called forth the warmest praise and sympathy from British and Americans alike. His remains were taken to Westminster Abbey, where upon the sarcophagus is inscribed: "He fell a sacrifice to his zeal for his king and country, on the second of October 1780, aged 29." André's charming character is well depicted in "The Life of Major André" by Winthrop Sargent (1862). For other accounts see life of Benedict Arnold in Jared Sparks's "American Biography"; "Narrative of the Causes which led to the Death of Major André," by Joshua H. Smith (1808), and "Vindication of the Captors of Major Andre," by Benson (1817). The three militiamen who captured André — John Pauding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams — were awarded by Congress a silver medal and the sum of $200 per annum. John André suffered his ignominious death at Tappan, N. Y., he having been refused his request of meeting his end as a soldier by being shot. A rough boulder marks the spot, on which is cut in deep letters: "André, executed Oct. 2, 1780."