“M” — John André

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In the James Bond films, the spymaster is never known by their name, only their codename. In 1777, Britain’s master spy was John André.

John André was a British Major officer on the staff of General Henry Clinton (Commander in Chief of British Forces in North America).  In 1774, André was sent to serve in Canada, where he was captured by American forces during the Siege of Fort St. John.  He spent a year on parole in Pennsylvania and then rejoined the British Army when General Howe decided to invade Philadelphia.  While in Philadelphia, he courted a young woman, Peggy Shippen, who eventually married American General Benedict Arnold.  After the British withdrew from Philadelphia, aid to General Henry Clinton and operated spies in New York and Philadelphia. Andre used his relationship with Peggy Shippen to establish communication and eventually turning of Arnold who planned to surrender the critical fortress at West Point New York to the British in exchange for a commission in the British Army and £10,000. On September 21, 1780, André met with Arnold who gave him confidential documents and a map of West Point. André intended to return to General Clinton and give him the documents. However, André was stopped by three men from the New York militia who found the documents, arrested him, and brought him to General George Washington.  

Major John André was convicted of spying in 1780.  When he was offered to the British in a prisoner exchange, but the British refused. André was hanged on the morning of October 2, 1780, at Tappan, New York.

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