General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, most notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762.
Background
John Burgoyne was born in Sutton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, location of the Burgoyne baronets family home Sutton Manor, on 24 February 1722. His mother, Anna Maria Burgoyne, was the daughter of a wealthy Hackney merchant. His father was supposedly an army officer, Captain John Burgoyne, although there were rumours that he might be the illegitimate son of Lord Bingley, who was his godfather. When Bingley died in 1731 his will specified that Burgoyne was to inherit his estate if his daughters had no male issue.
Education
General John Burgoyne was educated at Westminster School, he entered the army in 1740.
Career
The earl later became Burgoyne's protector. Because of debt Burgoyne sold his commission in 1746 and retired to France. When the Seven Years' War broke out in 1756 he re-entered the army, served in the expeditions against Cherbourg and St. Malo, and was sent to Lisbon as a brigadier general in 1762 to aid England's ally, Portugal.
In 1768 General John Burgoyne became M. P. for Preston, and for the next few years he occupied himself chiefly with his parliamentary duties, in which he was remarkable for his general outspokennessand, in particular, for his attacks on Lord Clive.
At the same time he devoted much attention to art and drama (his first play, The Maid of the Oaks, being produced by Garrick in 1775), and gambled recklessly.
In the army he had by this time become a major-general, and on the outbreak of the American War of Independence he was appointed to a command.
On the 17th of October his troops, about 3500 in number, laid down their arms. The success was the greatest the colonists had yet gained, and it proved the turning-point in the war.
The indignation in England against Burgoyne was great, but perhaps unjust. He returned at once, with the leave of the American general, to defend his conduct, and demanded, but never obtained, a trial. He was deprived of his regiment and a governorship which he held.
He tried his hand at writing, and in 1775 his first play, The Maid of the Oaks, was produced in London by David Garrick.
In 1775 he served under General Thomas Gage at Boston and in 1776 under Sir Guy Carleton in Canada, and in 1777, as major general, he was given command of a British force to advance south from Montreal against the American revolutionaries.
He captured Ticonderoga, July 6, 1777, but was forced to surrender to the Americans under General Horatio Gates at Saratoga October 17, 1777, owing in some measure at least to the failure of General Sir William Howe to advance from New York to meet him.
Burgoyne's surrender was instrumental in bringing France to the aid of the Americans and thus contributed greatly to the cause of
His comedy, The Heiress, which appeared in 1786, ran through ten editions within a year, and was translated into several foreign tongues.
His Dramatic and Poetical Works appeared in two vols. , 1808.
Achievements
Connections
General John Burgoyne was married to Lady Charlotte Stanley.