A
distinguished British nobleman and Army officer, Charles Cornwallis,
also known as Lord Cornwallis,
became famous for his surrender at Yorktown,
Virginia that ended the American
Revolution. As a general he had the respect of his troops and earned their
loyalty by the concern he showed for them.
Charles Cornwallis was born on December 31, 1738, in London. He was raised in a highly respected family of the British nobility. He attended Eton College for about two years before joining the British Army at age 18. Cornwallis studied the art of war and was very good at military science.
Cornwallis supported the American colonies. He opposed the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts that burdened the colonies with unfair laws and heavy taxes. He retired from Parliament after trying without success to defend the colonies against strict British laws.
Cornwallis was made a major general in 1775. When the American Revolution began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, King George III sent him to North America. Although Cornwallis did not believe the British would win a war against the American colonies, he accepted this assignment. Cornwallis thought his duty was to end the unrest of his fellow countrymen rather than to fight a war against an enemy nation.
Upon arriving in North America in 1776, Cornwallis' army helped General Henry Clinton in a failed attack on Charleston, South Carolina. From here both generals marched to the North to join General William Howe, commander of all British forces in the war, for campaigns against the Continental Army under General George Washington.
Defeats to Washington's forces at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, in January 1777 made Howe and Clinton doubt Cornwallis' capabilities as a good leader. Cornwallis redeemed himself in the fall of 1777 with victories at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Pennsylvania. Still, conflict grew between Cornwallis and his senior generals. Howe left his post and returned to England in 1778, leaving Clinton in charge of British forces. Confusion followed as Clinton and Cornwallis competed to replace Howe. Finally the confusion ended, and Clinton remained in command. He appointed Cornwallis as commander of British forces in the South.
Cornwallis met strong resistance and had heavy casualties during battles against American General Nathanael Greene in North Carolina. Cornwallis' army had been severely weakened before advancing into Virginia. In the meantime the combination of allied U.S. and French forces was overpowering Clinton in the North. While Cornwallis invaded Virginia, Clinton ordered him to secure a British base on the coast at Yorktown, Virginia, to reinforce the British armies in the North.
Cornwallis led his exhausted troops to defend Yorktown in the fall of 1781. Soon a French fleet arrived to block the coast, and U.S. and French troops surrounded Cornwallis, trapping him at Yorktown. With Clinton unable to send relief to Yorktown, Cornwallis was forced to surrender. The result was a triumph for American independence. Cornwallis returned to Great Britain and was honored for his brave leadership in the war despite his losses.
Later in his life, Cornwallis was appointed to represent Great Britain in India but died on October 5, 1805, shortly after his arrival in Ghazipur. An outspoken leader, Cornwallis acted with honor throughout his years of service as a British soldier and statesman.
Bibliography
“Cornwallis, Charles." Compton's by Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 27 Oct. 2009 <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-9320382>.
Charles Cornwallis was born on December 31, 1738, in London. He was raised in a highly respected family of the British nobility. He attended Eton College for about two years before joining the British Army at age 18. Cornwallis studied the art of war and was very good at military science.
Cornwallis supported the American colonies. He opposed the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts that burdened the colonies with unfair laws and heavy taxes. He retired from Parliament after trying without success to defend the colonies against strict British laws.
Cornwallis was made a major general in 1775. When the American Revolution began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, King George III sent him to North America. Although Cornwallis did not believe the British would win a war against the American colonies, he accepted this assignment. Cornwallis thought his duty was to end the unrest of his fellow countrymen rather than to fight a war against an enemy nation.
Upon arriving in North America in 1776, Cornwallis' army helped General Henry Clinton in a failed attack on Charleston, South Carolina. From here both generals marched to the North to join General William Howe, commander of all British forces in the war, for campaigns against the Continental Army under General George Washington.
Defeats to Washington's forces at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, in January 1777 made Howe and Clinton doubt Cornwallis' capabilities as a good leader. Cornwallis redeemed himself in the fall of 1777 with victories at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Pennsylvania. Still, conflict grew between Cornwallis and his senior generals. Howe left his post and returned to England in 1778, leaving Clinton in charge of British forces. Confusion followed as Clinton and Cornwallis competed to replace Howe. Finally the confusion ended, and Clinton remained in command. He appointed Cornwallis as commander of British forces in the South.
Cornwallis met strong resistance and had heavy casualties during battles against American General Nathanael Greene in North Carolina. Cornwallis' army had been severely weakened before advancing into Virginia. In the meantime the combination of allied U.S. and French forces was overpowering Clinton in the North. While Cornwallis invaded Virginia, Clinton ordered him to secure a British base on the coast at Yorktown, Virginia, to reinforce the British armies in the North.
Cornwallis led his exhausted troops to defend Yorktown in the fall of 1781. Soon a French fleet arrived to block the coast, and U.S. and French troops surrounded Cornwallis, trapping him at Yorktown. With Clinton unable to send relief to Yorktown, Cornwallis was forced to surrender. The result was a triumph for American independence. Cornwallis returned to Great Britain and was honored for his brave leadership in the war despite his losses.
Later in his life, Cornwallis was appointed to represent Great Britain in India but died on October 5, 1805, shortly after his arrival in Ghazipur. An outspoken leader, Cornwallis acted with honor throughout his years of service as a British soldier and statesman.
Bibliography
“Cornwallis, Charles." Compton's by Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 27 Oct. 2009 <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-9320382>.