Col. Benjamin Tallmadge (1754-1835)

He was born in Setauket on Long Island, New York. He graduated from Yale College (1773) where he befriended Nathan Hale, and on the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1776 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Connecticut militia. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a Major in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons. His most significant role came in 1778 when George Washington asked him to organize military intelligence operations in New York, creating and directing the Culper Spy Ring, one of the war's most successful intelligence networks. Operating in British-occupied New York, this network provided crucial information to Washington throughout the conflict. The ring used sophisticated techniques including invisible ink, coded messages, and dead drops, and they helped expose Benedict Arnold's treason in 1780 while contributing to several American victories on the battlefield.

He continued his military service until the end of the war, participating in various campaigns and reaching the rank of Colonel. After the war, he returned to Connecticut, where he became a successful merchant in Litchfield. He entered politics in 1801, serving eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Federalist until 1817. During his congressional career, he advocated for military preparedness and veterans' affairs. His spent his retirement in Litchfield in the same house (see images) he bought in 1782, remaining active in civic affairs until his death in 1835. He had seven children (listed).