A British Military Leader: General Charles Cornwallis

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Any American undoubtedly knows the story of how independence was won from England during the Revolutionary War. Everybody is aware of the famous American Patriots such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. However, few ever paid attention to the British's main leaders in the war. One of England's most influential figures in the Revolutionary War was Charles Cornwallis. The General was a key part of England's attempted suppression of American colonists. Although the Patriots ultimately ended up winning the war, there's no doubting the skill and experience of General Charles Cornwallis.
Cornwallis was born in 1738 and lived a long 67 years before dying in 1805. "The eldest son of the first Earl Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis saw military service in Germany during the Seven Years' War" ("Charles Cornwallis). As tensions continued to rise and boil over, Cornwallis did not necessarily agree with the taxes being forced on American colonists. "As a member of Parliament (which he entered in 1760), he opposed the tax measures that helped bring on the American Revolution" ("Charles Cornwallis Cornwallis, 1st Marquess"). However, when the war started, he sided with the King of England. Cornwallis basically had no choice due to his undying loyalty towards the King of England. He was sent to America in 1776 where he "served under Gen. William Howe at the battle of Long Island, in the New Jersey campaigns, and at the battle of Brandywine" ("Charles Cornwallis Cornwallis, 1st Marquess").
Cornwallis ended up being "surprised by George Washington's crossing of the Delaware and outmaneuvered at the Battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777)" ("Charles Cornwallis"). However he had the military prowess and strength to ...

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...tive languages and customs. Cornwallis even helped suppress the Irish rebellion and limited French invasion of 1798. He was again appointed as the governor general of India in 1805. However, just two months after he arrived in India, he passed away. This marked the end of Charles Cornwallis's long, 68 year long life.

Works Cited

HEATON, CHARLES. "The Failure Of Enlightenment Military Doctrine In Revolutionary America: The Piedmont Campaign And The Fate Of The British Army In The Lower South." North Carolina Historical Review 87.2 (2010): 127-157. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.
"Charles Cornwallis." 2013. The History Channel website. Dec 19 2013, 9:19 http://www.history.com/topics/charles-cornwallis.
"Charles Cornwallis Cornwallis, 1st Marquess." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

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