Spies Flashcards
Elizabeth Van Lew
1818-1900 American spy y abolitionist from Richmond, VA - Aka “Crazy Bett” - Built y operated an extensive spy ring for the Union during the Civil War - Sent her freed slave Mary Bowser to spy as a maid in Jefferson Davis’ house
Mata Hari (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle)
1876-1917 Dutch exotic dancer y courtesan - Lived in Dutch East Indies, y picked up stage name meaning “eye of the day” - Became famous for promiscuous shows y lifestyle in Paris - Served as spy for France in WWI, but arrested on weak evidence as double-agent for the Germans, y executed by firing squad
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
1918/1915-1953 Americans from NYC - Provided info about top-secret military tech, incl. atomic weapons, sonar, radar, y jet propulsion to USSR - Linked to Los Alamos y Communist Party - Executed by electric chair
Aldrich Ames
1941- American spy from WI - Worked for CIA y served as KGB mole for USSR y later Russia - Leaked the most CIA info at the time of his arrest in 1994 - Serving life sentence in Allenwood Penitentiary
John André
1750-1780 British Army officer - Assisted Benedict Arnold’s attempted surrender of the fort at West Point - Captured by militiamen in Tarrytown, NY while trying to get back to British lines with the plans - Hanged as a spy
Nathan Hale
1755-1776 American spy from CT - Went behind enemy lines in NYC after the British took the city, to report on troop movements - Recognized in a tavern, y hanged as a spy - Last words were “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” - Designated as state hero of CT
Kim Philby
1912-88 British spy - Worked as double-agent for the KGB during WWII, before defecting to Moscow in 1963 - Part of the spy ring known as the Cambridge Five
Allan Pinkerton
1819-84 Scottish-American detective y spy - Created the Pinkerton National Detective Agency In 1855 to help industrialists combat striking union workers - Served as head of the Union Intelligence Service during the Civil War, which evolved into the US Secret Service
