born May 2, 1750, London, Eng.
died Oct. 2, 1780, Tappan, N.Y., U.S.
British army officer and spy.
From 1774 he was the chief intelligence officer of the British commander Henry Clinton at New York. In 1779 André began corresponding with Gen. Benedict Arnold , who had become disillusioned with the American cause. In 1780 he obtained Arnold's agreement to surrender the West Point fort. André was captured while returning to New York, and incriminating papers were found in his boot; he was found guilty of espionage and hanged.