CHARLES CORNWALLIS
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS LORD
CORNWALLIS, 1ST
MARQUESS AND 2ND EARL CORNWALLIS,
VISCOUNT BROME, OR BARON
CORNWALLLIS OF EYE
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
• December 31, 1738: born in London
• Education: Eton, Clare College
• Military official 1761-death
• Important political leader 1770-death
• October 5, 1805: died in Ghazupir, India (Uttar
Pradesh) – governor general
Inscription on the monument of Charles
Cornwallis in Westminster Abbey
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
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Joined the army after graduating college
Known to the public as independent and honorable
Campaign in Germany – lieutenant-colonel in 12th Foot – 1761
Colonel in 33rd Foot – 1766
Inherited rank of Earl and estates from his father – 1762
Governor of Tower of London - 1770
Major-general in American Revolution
Order of the Garter – 1786
Governor-general of India – 1786
Defeated Tippoo Sahib in India – 1792
Master-general of the Ordnance – 1795
Viceroy of Ireland – 1798
Governor-general of India for a 2nd time – 1805
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
• Opposed policies against colonies that led to Revolutionary War
• Became major-general during American Revolution despite
personal beliefs
• Drove George Washington’s forces out of New Jersey – 1776
• Victory over General Horatio Gates – South Carolina, 1780
• Established base at seaport of Yorktown
• trapped by American and French army by land and
French navy at sea
• Surrendered his army
• Never lost esteem in Britain
RESOURCES
“Charles Cornwallis, first Marquis and second Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805),” A Web of
English History, accessed October 19, 2014,
http://www.historyhome.co.uk/people/cornwall.htm.
“Valley Forge Cornwallis,” Literary and Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania,
accessed October 20, 2014,
http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/ValleyForgeCornwallis.jpg.
“Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cormwallis,” Britannica School,
accessed October 25, 2014, http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/26364.
“Charles Cornwallis,” NNDB, accessed October 18, 2014,
http://www.nndb.com/people/922/000049775/.
“Surrender of the British General Cornwallis to the Americans, October 19, 1781,” The
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, accessed October 26, 2014,
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/war-forindependence/resources/surrender-british-general-cornwallis-americansoctober .
“British Titles and Orders of Precedence,” Edwardian Promenade, accessed October
26, 2014. http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/resources/titles-and-ordersof-precedence/