“Q” — Benjamin Talmadge

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In the James Bond films, the spymaster is never known by their name, only their codename. In 1777, America’s master spy was Benjamin Talmadge.

Major Benjamin Tallmadge was an American Continental Army officer who oversaw the Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution.  In November 1778, Gen. George Washington directed Tallmadge to organize an intelligence service to operate in British-occupied New York City. The service, known as the Culper Spy provided accurate and frequent intelligence to Washington regarding the disposition and activity of British troops in and around New York City which was the British headquarters in North America. Tallmadge continued to serve in the dragoons while managing the Culper Ring perform reconnaissance and mounted patrols with the 2nd Dragoons.  As a dragoon, Tallmadge participated in the Battles of the Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth and in the whaleboat raid on Fort St. George, Long Island, New York

Tallmadge’s management of the Culper Spy Ring provided timely and accurate intelligence to Washington and set a high standard for future clandestine intelligence operations. He managed the service so well that the British never discovered any of the Ring’s members.

Congress promoted Tallmadge to lieutenant colonel in September 1783. After the war, Tallmadge operated a dry-goods store, B. Tallmadge and Company, in Litchfield, Connecticut, speculated in land in Ohio, and served as a Federalist congressman for his Connecticut district from 1801 to 1817.

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