Benjamin Church

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Benjamin Church (1734 – 1778) was a member of the Templar Order and Surgeon General of the Continental Army.

Biography

Early life

Church attended Harvard University where he studied medicine and surgery. He chose being a doctor believing it to be the most profitable profession. Soon after he graduated in 1754 and became a qualified and talented physician, residing in Boston.

Colonial Templar

Church also became affiliated with the Templar Order and was to be recruited by Haytham Kenway. However, due to his wealth, Church was abducted and tortured by Silas Thatcher and Cutter for protection money. Haytham and Charles Lee discovered Church's home ransacked, hence searched for his whereabouts by eavesdropping on guards and witnesses to his abduction, leading them to a warehouse on a nearby dock. Silas left Church in Cutter's care, who threatened to cut off Church's tongue, ears, hands and even castrate him. Cutter sliced Church's left nostril but was saved the arrival of Kenway and Lee.

Church, after having his nostril sewn up, was grateful to Haytham for rescuing him and gave him information regarding John Pitcairn, the final recruit. Church soon after took part in the infiltration of Southgate Fort to free the Mohawk slaves, during which Silas was wounded by Haytham, allowing Church to personally execute him as revenge for the torture he received. Church later assisted in the assassination of General Edward Braddock, allowing Haytham access to information and the location of the "precursor site." Haytham soon after inducted Lee into the Templar Order and changed their mission to establish a permanent presence and influence in colonies.

Betraying the Order

By 1775, Church joined the Continental Army commissioned as Chief Physician and head of the medical wing, however he also spied for the British Army. Church was caught by the Continental Army, but insisted that he was innocent by claiming that he gave falsified information to British to deter their attacks. Church was imprisoned and upon his release he abandoned both the Continental Army and Templar Order, stealing a large supply of weapons and medicine from a convoy intended for the Continental Army.

Church suspected that Haytham would kill him for this betrayal, hence hired several mercenaries to help guard and escort the stolen supplies as well ambush and kill Haytham. However, Church was also pursued by Connor, a member of the Assassin Brotherhood, who had formed a temporary alliance with his father Haytham in order to kill Church and retrieve the supplies that Church stole from the Continental Army. Haytham and Connor confronted Church in a warehouse in New York, only to realize that it was a decoy and a trap. They defeated the guards before the imposter told them that the real Church had fled to Martinique aboard the naval ship Welcome before he was killed by Haytham.

Death

Despite being a few days ahead, the Aquila, captained by Connor, was able to catch up to the Welcome, disabling the ship by destroying the ship's mast. Haytham then took control of the Aquila, forcing it into the Welcome in order to board the ship. Haytham caught up with Church below deck and proceeded to brutally beat him, enraged by his betrayal. Connor intervened and swiftly ended Church's life by impaling him through the chest. After first refusing, Church revealed the location of the supplies, stashed on a nearby island, after he was stabbed by Connor. He passed away after telling Connor that his only goal was personal gain.

Personality and Characteristics

Church was a highly self-serving and duplicitous man, despite his years as a surgeon and as part of the Templar order, Church's only motivation was personal gain. Church pursued a career as a surgeon believing it to be the most profitable profession believing that people would pay any price to ensure their lives and well being. He had little to no actual concern for the well being of his fellow man and was quick to dismiss those who could not afford his services, fulfilling the unethical doctor stereotype by ignoring his Hippocratic oath. Church was very wealthy and owned a mansion that was later seized and ransacked in order to pay for the Continental Army's war efforts. He was also married but neglected his wife and pursued another woman.

To further support his treacherous nature, Church played both sides of American Revolutionary War, but even betrayed his true loyalties to the Templars. His final words to Connor suggest that he ultimately became disillusioned with the Templars' cause and saw neither side of those fighting in the Revolutionary War as just. Nonetheless he chose to side with British for personal gain.

Final words

Benjamin's final moments.

• Connor: Where are the supplies you stole?
• Benjamin: Go to hell.

Connor stabs Benjamin with the Hidden Blade.

• Connor: I ask again: where are the supplies?
• Benjamin: On the island yonder, awaiting pickup. But you've no right to it. It isn't yours.
• Connor: No, not mine. Those supplies are meant for men and women who believe in something bigger than themselves. Who fight and die that one day they might be free from tyranny such as yours.
• Benjamin: Are these the same men and women who fight with muskets forged from British steel? Who bind their wounds with bandages sewn by British hands? How convenient for them. We do the work. They reap the rewards.
• Connor: You spin a story to excuse your crimes. As though you're the innocent one and they the thieves.
• Benjamin: It's all a matter of perspective. There is no single path through life that's right and fair and does no harm. Do you truly think the Crown has no cause? No right to feel betrayed? You should know better than this, dedicated as you are to fighting Templars - who themselves see their work as just. Think on that the next time you insist your work alone befits the greater good. Your enemy would beg to differ - and would not be without cause.
• Connor: Your words may have been sincere, but that does not make them true.

Trivia

• Historically speaking, Benjamin Church's title "Dr. Benjamin Church" made him the first Surgeon General of the Continental Army serving as the 'Chief Physician & Director General' of the Medical Service from July 27, 1775 to October 17, 1775.

Reference

• Assassin's Creed III