Before and during World War II, getting access to secret information could be the difference between winning and losing a battle. Post that era, spies have still been trying to get information that could help lead to the removal of someone in office. While the motives might seem completely different from what they once were, the idea of sneaking around has remained a constant.
The way spies have been portrayed in the media throughout the years has made it appear their job only lasts for a short amount of time. However, that’s usually wrong. Spies have been known to do their jobs for years without getting caught. There’s also little gunfire spy experience, especially in the modern day.
However, spies didn’t have the technology to assist them in figuring out their opponent’s next move. Harriet Tubman is an example of that. She had to write things down or keep them in her memory. Her ability to do that while still helping free slaves is one of the reasons she’s an American icon.
Not all notable spies in American history have been good. Anna Chapman is a modern-day spy who was arrested under the suspicion of providing information to Russia. Her looks have turned her into a celebrity in Russia. For more spy content, click here to read about the most female undercover agents in history.
To compile this list of the most famous spies in American history, 24/7 Tempo consulted crime-related sources. These include CBS News, the Chicago Tribune, and MountVernon.org.
Harriet Tubman
American abolitionist leader Harriet Tubman (1820 - 1913) who escaped slavery by marrying a free man and led many other slaves to safety using the abolitionist network known as the underground railway. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
- Who they spied for: The North
- Conflict: Civil War
While Harriet Tubman is correctly most well-known for helping slaves escape the South to bring them to freedom, she played another crucial role in helping the North secure victory in the Civil War. Part of her job when helping slaves escape was to collect information from the South that the North could then use. Because of the courage she displayed, the North beat the South.
Jonathan Pollard
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Jonathan Pollard, the American convicted of spying for Israel, leaves a New York court house following his release from prison early on Friday after 30 years on November 20, 2015 in New York, New York. Pollard, who was convicted as a Navy intelligence analyst of passing suitcases filled with classified documents to Israeli agents in the mid-1980s, wont be allowed by the Obama administration to leave the country and move to Israel at this time. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
- Who they spied for: Israel
- Conflict: None
No matter how high up you are in the government, there’s no excuse for divulging information to other countries. Jonathan Pollard was once a respected individual. He’s now known for giving away US secrets to Israel. Pollard was swayed by the financial benefits that Israel was offering him at the time for these crimes. He’s been released and now lives in Israel full-time with his wife.
Harpo Marx
- Who they spied for: United States
- Conflict: None
Being a comedian usually comes with perks like sitting near royalty and living a lavish life. However, for Harpo Marx, it meant smuggling messages to and from the Soviet Union during his tour in the 1930s. He only did that for ten days, but proclaimed they were the longest days of his life. Marx continued his career in comedy after the tour ended, and served no criminal time in the Soviet Union.
Julia Child
- Who they spied for: United States
- Conflict: World War II
Being a six-foot-tall woman makes it hard to be a spy. Julia Child made that possible, though. During World War II, Child wanted to enlist but she was too tall for the Women’s Army Corps. She got a job working in Washington D.C. where she would then be transferred to Sri Lanka.
There, her duties were to get information about what the Asian countries were doing by getting her hands on classified documents. Her efforts were part of the reason the Allies won World War II. After that, Child became known as a chef on television and wrote books about cooking.
George Washington
- Who they spied for: United States
- Conflict: Revolutionary War
Before becoming the first president of the United States, George Washington helped lead the revolution. In doing so, he understood that the British had a significant advantage when it came to the army. To combat that, he resorted to spying on the opposition to find out what exactly their plans were. That’s one of the reasons the United States was able to pull off the massive upset against the crown before becoming a nation.
Anna Chapman
- Who they spied for: Russia
- Conflict: None
It’s no secret that the United States and Russia have kept a close eye on one another over the years. Anna Chapman was part of a group from Russia that sent surveillance back to their home. For over one year, she spent time in New York City gaining as much information as she could. However, she was caught and sent back to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange. She’s considered a local hero by Russians.
Moe Berg
The Aviators is a great Nevada baseball team.
- Who they spied for: United States
- Conflict: World War II
Tons of boys around the world grow up wanting to be both professional athletes and spies. Moe Berg is one of the few who got to live out both dreams. After his baseball career concluded, Berg joined the army and was part of a special group that went around Europe interviewing people to get potential insight into what their next steps were. Berg later rejoined the CIA in the 1950s to help monitor Israel and the Soviet Union.
Ian Fleming
24th March 1958: Ian Fleming, British author and creator of James Bond, at his desk in his study. (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images)
- Who they spied for: England
- Conflict: World War II
While he’s most known for writing the James Bond spy series, Ian Fleming was once a trained British spy. He joined the military during World War II, like many young men did. During that time, he was tasked with learning what the Nazis were doing. Fleming worked with the United States to help overtake the town of Diep, which was under German control at the time.
Now, the author and spy is credited with helping President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the creation of the CIA. He was also in charge of supervising crews that were vital in forcing the Japanese to surrender. Gaining that real-life experience made it easy for Fleming to write his famous book series.
Earl Pitts
- Who they spied for: Russia
- Conflict: None
The truth about most people is that when they can earn a lot of money in a short amount of time, they’ll do it – regardless of the consequences. That’s just what happened to Earl Pitts. The former FBI agent was convicted of selling classified information to the KGB and Russia. That happened in the 1990s when the Soviet Union was shifting its political position. Pitts was jailed for more than 20 years, and eventually got released in 2019.
Sterling Hayden
American actor Sterling Hayden (1916 - 1986) wearing a corduroy jacket and smoking a cigarette outdoors, 1951. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
- Who they spied for: United States
- Conflict: World War II
Leaving the comfort of Hollywood to serve your country is noble. That is what Sterling Hayden did during World War II. During basic training for the army, he broke his ankle. After that, he was transferred to work on secret missions. He spent time in Europe where he put himself behind enemy lines to get information on what was going on. His selfless acts only added to his allure on screen. He returned to acting once his service was no longer required by the United States.
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg
- Who they spied for: Soviet Union
- Conflict: World War II
It’s rare to find a couple convicted of espionage on such a grand scale. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are arguably the biggest names in American history when it comes to spying. They were convicted of their crimes in the 1950s. They sent information regarding the Manhattan Project, which is how the United States developed the nuclear bomb, to the Soviet Union.
The duo was executed for their crimes. Their two sons have worked all their lives to clear their parents’ name. (For more, click here to read about the worst cases of espionage in US history.)