British general, best remembered for his defeat by superior American forces in the Saratoga (New York) campaign of 1777, during the American Revolution.
After serving with distinction in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), Burgoyne was elected to the House of Commons in 1761 and again in 1768. Assigned to Canada in 1776 as a major general, he entered into an offensive in which British armies from the north (Burgoyne’s troops), south (General Sir William Howe’s), and west (Colonel Barry St. Leger’s) would unite at Albany, New York, isolating New England from the other rebellious colonies. Burgoyne’s force captured Fort Ticonderoga, New York, on July 6, 1777, but, after reaching the Hudson River, was fought to a standstill by a much larger army commanded successively by General Philip Schuyler and General Horatio Gates, who were brilliantly assisted by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Exhausting his food and ammunition and receiving no aid from Howe (who chose to fight in Pennsylvania) or St. Leger (who was defeated at Oriskany, New York, and withdrew westward), Burgoyne had to surrender to Gates north of Saratoga Springs on October 17, 1777. Paroled along with his troops, he returned to England, where he faced severe criticism. For a short time (1782–83) he was commander in chief in Ireland, but he retired increasingly to private life, in which he was a leader of London society and fashion. He also wrote several plays, of which the most successful was The Heiress (1786).
After serving with distinction in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), Burgoyne was elected to the House of Commons in 1761 and again in 1768. Assigned to Canada in 1776 as a major general, he entered into an offensive in which British armies from the north (Burgoyne’s troops), south (General Sir William Howe’s), and west (Colonel Barry St. Leger’s) would unite at Albany, New York, isolating New England from the other rebellious colonies. Burgoyne’s force captured Fort Ticonderoga, New York, on July 6, 1777, but, after reaching the Hudson River, was fought to a standstill by a much larger army commanded successively by General Philip Schuyler and General Horatio Gates, who were brilliantly assisted by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Exhausting his food and ammunition and receiving no aid from Howe (who chose to fight in Pennsylvania) or St. Leger (who was defeated at Oriskany, New York, and withdrew westward), Burgoyne had to surrender to Gates north of Saratoga Springs on October 17, 1777. Paroled along with his troops, he returned to England, where he faced severe criticism. For a short time (1782–83) he was commander in chief in Ireland, but he retired increasingly to private life, in which he was a leader of London society and fashion. He also wrote several plays, of which the most successful was The Heiress (1786).
- Where I got the information (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/85148/John-Burgoyne)
The British general Sir Henry Clinton was the son of admiral George Clinton (governor of Newfoundland and subsequently of New York), and grandson of the 6th earl of Lincoln. After serving in the New York militia, he came to England and joined the Coldstream Guards. In 1758 he became captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Grenadier Guards, and in 1760-62 distinguished himself very greatly as an aide-de-camp to Ferdinand of Brunswick in the Seven Years' War. He was promoted colonel in 1762, and after the peace received the colonelcy of a regiment of foot, becoming major-general in 1772. From 1772 to 1784, thanks to the influence of his cousin, the 2nd duke of Newcastle, he had a seat in parliament, first for Boroughbridge and subsequently for Newark, but for the greater part of this time he was on active service in America in the War of Independence. He took part in the battles of Bunker Hill and Long Island, subsequently taking possession of New York. For his share in the battle of Long Island he was made a lieutenant-general and K.B. After Saratoga he succeeded Sir William Howe as commander-in-chief in North America. He had already been made a local general. He at once concentrated the British forces at New York, pursuing a policy of foraying expeditions in place of regular campaigns. In 1779 he invaded South Carolina, and in 1780 in conjunction with Admiral M. Arbuthnot won an important success in the capture of Charleston. Friction, however, was constant between him and Lord Cornwallis, his second in command, and in 1782, after the capitulation of Cornwallis at Yorktown, he was superseded by Sir Guy Carleton. Returning to England, he published in 1783 his Narrative of the Campaign of 1781 in North America, which provoked an acrimonious reply from Lord Cornwallis. He was elected M.P. for Launceston in 1790, and in 1794 was made governor of Gibraltar
- Where I got the information (http://www.nndb.com/people/061/000049911/) P.S. This was a very, VERY intresting site for one word.
British general who successfully commanded all British forces in North America for more than 10 years (1763–74) but failed to stem the tide of rebellion as military governor of Massachusetts (1774–75) at the outbreak of the American Revolution.
In 1763 Gage was appointed commander in chief of all British forces in North America—the most important and influential post in the colonies. Headquartered in New York, he ran a vast military machine of more than 50 garrisons and stations stretching from Newfoundland to Florida and from Bermuda to the Mississippi. He exhibited both patience and tact in handling matters of diplomacy, trade, communication, Indian relations, and western boundaries. His great failure, however, was in his assessment of the burgeoning independence movement. As the main permanent adviser to the mother country in that period, he sent critical and unsympathetic reports that did much to harden the attitude of successive ministries toward the colonies.
When resistance turned violent at the Boston Tea Party (1773), Gage was instrumental in shaping Parliament’s retaliatory Intolerable (Coercive) Acts (1774), by which the port of Boston was closed until the destroyed tea should be paid for. He was largely responsible for inclusion of the inflammatory provision for quartering of soldiers in private homes and of the Massachusetts Government Act, by which colonial democratic institutions were superseded by a British military government. Thus Gage is chiefly remembered in the U.S. as the protagonist of the British cause while he served as military governor in Massachusetts from 1774 to 1775. In this capacity, he ordered the march of the redcoats onLexington and Concord (April 1775), which was intended to uncover ammunition caches and to capture the leading Revolutionary agitator, Samuel Adams, who escaped. This unfortunate manoeuvre signalled the start of the American Revolution; after the equally disastrous Battle of Bunker Hill in June, Gage was succeeded by Gen. Sir William Howe. He soon returned to England and was commissioned a full general in 1782.
In 1763 Gage was appointed commander in chief of all British forces in North America—the most important and influential post in the colonies. Headquartered in New York, he ran a vast military machine of more than 50 garrisons and stations stretching from Newfoundland to Florida and from Bermuda to the Mississippi. He exhibited both patience and tact in handling matters of diplomacy, trade, communication, Indian relations, and western boundaries. His great failure, however, was in his assessment of the burgeoning independence movement. As the main permanent adviser to the mother country in that period, he sent critical and unsympathetic reports that did much to harden the attitude of successive ministries toward the colonies.
When resistance turned violent at the Boston Tea Party (1773), Gage was instrumental in shaping Parliament’s retaliatory Intolerable (Coercive) Acts (1774), by which the port of Boston was closed until the destroyed tea should be paid for. He was largely responsible for inclusion of the inflammatory provision for quartering of soldiers in private homes and of the Massachusetts Government Act, by which colonial democratic institutions were superseded by a British military government. Thus Gage is chiefly remembered in the U.S. as the protagonist of the British cause while he served as military governor in Massachusetts from 1774 to 1775. In this capacity, he ordered the march of the redcoats onLexington and Concord (April 1775), which was intended to uncover ammunition caches and to capture the leading Revolutionary agitator, Samuel Adams, who escaped. This unfortunate manoeuvre signalled the start of the American Revolution; after the equally disastrous Battle of Bunker Hill in June, Gage was succeeded by Gen. Sir William Howe. He soon returned to England and was commissioned a full general in 1782.
- Where I got this informaition (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223455/Thomas-Gage)
He was the illegitimate uncle of King George the Third, who was the British king during the Revolutionary War. Before he was sent to fight in the war, Howe was sympathetic to the colonists. But, as a soldier, he had to fight against them.
He came to the colonies on May 25, 1775, as a Major General. When he landed, he led the British troops in attacking Breed's Hill. This battle became known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Americans fought bravely, but they eventually ran low on ammunition and the British finally captured the hill. Many British soldiers died during the battle, but General Howe led his troops well.
General Howe became a full General in October, 1775, and he became the temporary Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in the 13 Colonies. After George Washington won a battle at Dorchester Heights, where he could overlook Boston Harbor and observe the British, General Howe ordered his troops to go back to Canada until they could attack again. Howe became the regular Commander-in-Chief in April, 1776.
In 1776, General Howe and his troops began the battle for New York City. In July, they landed on Staten Island. In August, they fought against General George Washington in the Battle of Long Island. The British won the battle, but then they stopped instead of going to chase the Americans. That let the Americans escape with their troops. General Howe won the important battle of White Plains against George Washington, but he made another mistake. Again, he did not chase the Americans and destroy the Continental Army. He took his troops back to Fort Washington, which they had passed. They captured the Fort, including 3000 prisoners and many supplies. This was a bad loss for the Americans. Then General Howe and his troops captured Fort Lee, New Jersey, across the river from New York City. The British had captured all of New York.
General Howe liked staying in New York. He did not fight for the first part of 1777. But when he did fight, he beat George Washington in the Battle of Brandywine and then he took over Philadelphia. He then wrote to England asking for permission to retire as Commander-in-Chief. On April 14, 1778, he got a letter telling him he could retire. He sailed back to England and retired.
He came to the colonies on May 25, 1775, as a Major General. When he landed, he led the British troops in attacking Breed's Hill. This battle became known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Americans fought bravely, but they eventually ran low on ammunition and the British finally captured the hill. Many British soldiers died during the battle, but General Howe led his troops well.
General Howe became a full General in October, 1775, and he became the temporary Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in the 13 Colonies. After George Washington won a battle at Dorchester Heights, where he could overlook Boston Harbor and observe the British, General Howe ordered his troops to go back to Canada until they could attack again. Howe became the regular Commander-in-Chief in April, 1776.
In 1776, General Howe and his troops began the battle for New York City. In July, they landed on Staten Island. In August, they fought against General George Washington in the Battle of Long Island. The British won the battle, but then they stopped instead of going to chase the Americans. That let the Americans escape with their troops. General Howe won the important battle of White Plains against George Washington, but he made another mistake. Again, he did not chase the Americans and destroy the Continental Army. He took his troops back to Fort Washington, which they had passed. They captured the Fort, including 3000 prisoners and many supplies. This was a bad loss for the Americans. Then General Howe and his troops captured Fort Lee, New Jersey, across the river from New York City. The British had captured all of New York.
General Howe liked staying in New York. He did not fight for the first part of 1777. But when he did fight, he beat George Washington in the Battle of Brandywine and then he took over Philadelphia. He then wrote to England asking for permission to retire as Commander-in-Chief. On April 14, 1778, he got a letter telling him he could retire. He sailed back to England and retired.
- Where I got this informaition ( http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/ghowe.htm )
Though he probably is known best as the British general who lost the American colonies, Lord Charles Cornwallis was actually quite a remarkable man. An educated aristocrat with military and political experience, Lord Cornwallis served King George III and Britain as one of the leading generals of the Revolutionary War, where he proved himself as a gifted strategist. He was forced to surrender his troops in 1781 to American and French forces at the Siege of Yorktown, which essentially ended the American Revolution. But that did not break his spirit or his reputation. General Cornwallis went on to serve as governor in Ireland and India, where he made significant reforms.
Compelled by his sense of duty, Cornwallis offered himself for service and was sent to America in early 1776. He was promoted to lieutenant general and began service in the colonies under Major General Henry Clinton’s command during a failed attempt to capture Charleston, South Carolina. Afterward, Cornwallis and Clinton sailed north, where they played a key role in General William Howe's capture of New York City. Granted leave in late 1776, Cornwallis prepared to return to England to enjoy the winter months with his family, but was ordered to contend with General Washington’s army following the surprising American victory at Trenton. Cornwallis marched his troops south but was unsuccessful in dislodging Washington. To make matters worse, Washington’s troops outflanked Cornwallis’ during the night and attacked the British troops at Princeton.
Compelled by his sense of duty, Cornwallis offered himself for service and was sent to America in early 1776. He was promoted to lieutenant general and began service in the colonies under Major General Henry Clinton’s command during a failed attempt to capture Charleston, South Carolina. Afterward, Cornwallis and Clinton sailed north, where they played a key role in General William Howe's capture of New York City. Granted leave in late 1776, Cornwallis prepared to return to England to enjoy the winter months with his family, but was ordered to contend with General Washington’s army following the surprising American victory at Trenton. Cornwallis marched his troops south but was unsuccessful in dislodging Washington. To make matters worse, Washington’s troops outflanked Cornwallis’ during the night and attacked the British troops at Princeton.
- Where I got this informaition ( http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm )