Some of the most famous names associated with the American Revolutionary War include Paul Revere and George Washington, but at least one important figure’s identity is a mystery. Agent 355 was a female undercover officer and member of the Culper Ring, a secret spy organization for the colonists. Her identity remains unknown to this day.Continue Reading
Historians believe this woman was a member of a wealthy Loyalist family, which gave her access to the kind of insider information that could help General Washington defeat the British troops. She aided in exposing Benedict Arnold as a traitor, and her insider intelligence helped lead to the arrest of England’s head intelligence officer.
Agent 355 was captured in October 1780, according to the National Women’s History Museum. She was pregnant at the time of her arrest and gave birth to a son while held captive on a prison ship. It is believed that she died shortly after this, keeping her identity a secret to the end.Learn more about US History