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British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia

The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army.

The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army. Arnold had changed sides in September 1780, after his plot was exposed to surrender the key Continental Army outpost at West Point. He spent the rest of 1780 recruiting Loyalists for a new regiment called the American Legion. Arnold was then sent to Virginia with 1,600 men in late December by General Sir Henry Clinton, with instructions to raid Richmond and then establish a strong fortification at Portsmouth.

He landed in Virginia on January 4, 1781 and raided Richmond the next day. They raided a few nearby communities, then returned to Portsmouth, where the troops established fortifications. They remained there until late March, when 2,000 reinforcements arrived, led by General William Phillips.

Historical Significance

The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army.

Key People

Benedict Arnold

military officer

British military officer

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Events Before

  1. Pennsylvania becomes first US state to abolish slavery (for newborns only)

    Pennsylvania becomes first US state to abolish slavery (for newborns only)

  2. The Great Hurricane of 1780 hits Barbados and goes on to kill 20,000 to 30,000 people in the Caribbean, making it the de

    The Great Hurricane of 1780 hits Barbados and goes on to kill 20,000 to 30,000 people in the Caribbean, making it the deadliest recorded hurricane in the Atlantic

  3. US founding father Alexander Hamilton (25) weds Elizabeth Schuyler (23) at Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York

    US founding father Alexander Hamilton (25) weds Elizabeth Schuyler (23) at Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York

  4. Danish national anthem "Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast" first performed during a play at the Royal Danish Theatre in

    Danish national anthem "Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast" first performed during a play at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen

  5. Snowstorm hits George Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey

    Snowstorm hits George Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey

Events After

  1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)" premieres in Vienna wi

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)" premieres in Vienna with Mozart conducting

  2. Musician Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (26) weds Constanze Weber in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria

    Musician Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (26) weds Constanze Weber in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria

  3. Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military

    Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit (now the Purple Heart). First time military awards are presented to common soldiers.

  4. Romantic Age poet and artist William Blake (24) marries Catherine Boucher (19) in St. Mary's Church, Battersea, London

    Romantic Age poet and artist William Blake (24) marries Catherine Boucher (19) in St. Mary's Church, Battersea, London

  5. The Grand Assault on Gibraltar by the allied French and Spanish fleets, including ten floating batteries and land forces

    The Grand Assault on Gibraltar by the allied French and Spanish fleets, including ten floating batteries and land forces, is heavily defeated by the British garrison, with all floating batteries destroyed and allied casualties of 1,473 compared to only 83 for the British

More from the 1780s

John Walter publishes the first issue of his newspaper "The Daily Universal Register," which is renamed "The Times" of L

John Walter publishes the first issue of his newspaper "The Daily Universal Register," which is renamed "The Times" of London in 1788

Emperor Joseph II's order for the Jews of Galicia, Austria, to adopt family names comes into effect

Emperor Joseph II's order for the Jews of Galicia, Austria, to adopt family names comes into effect

Future US Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall (27) weds Mary Willis Ambler (16) at his cousin's home in Han

Future US Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall (27) weds Mary Willis Ambler (16) at his cousin's home in Hanover County, Virginia, until her death in 1831

US Congress of the Confederation ratifies the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ending the American Revoluti

US Congress of the Confederation ratifies the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ending the American Revolutionary War, and forwards it to the British government

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 5, 1781?
The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army. Arnold had changed sides in September 1780, after his plot was exposed to surrender the key Continental Army outpost at West Point. He spent the rest of 1780 recruiting Loyalists for a new regiment called the American Legion.
Why is British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia significant?
The military career of Benedict Arnold in 1781 consisted of service in the British Army.
Who was involved in British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia?
Key figures include Benedict Arnold (military officer).

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January 5 in HistoryYear 1781