Charles cornwallis family
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Charles Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis was born on New Years’ Eve to an English ruling class family. His father Charles, a Baron, sent Cornwallis to Eton, an exclusive private school, then to a military academy in Turin, Italy. Charles the 5th eventually bought his son an Ensign’s commission in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, activating Cornwallis’s military career.
Cornwallis began his military career in earnest during the Seven Years’ War, transferring to the 12th Regiment of Foot and serving in Germany for three years. After his father passed away in 1762, he replaced him as Earl and took his seat in the House of Lords. During the first few years of his earldom, tensions between American colonists and the British crown rose to a boiling point. Cornwallis sympathized with the colonists and voted to repeal the Stamp Act; he was one of only five members to vote for this motion.
Colonial sympathies did not prevent him from serving the crown in the Revolution. In December 1775, following the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Cor
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Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, served as a general in the British army during the American Revolution. Cornwallis held commands throughout the the war, serving in campaigns in New York, Philadelphia, and notably commanding the southern theater in the field after Clinton's depature in June 1780. Best known for his surrender at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, which effectively ended hostilities and led to peace negotiations between Great Britain and the United States, Lord Cornwallis's postwar career demonstrated the resilience and power of the British Empire. Despite losing thirteen of their American colonies, Great Britiain emerged from the American Revolution with the foundation to build a new, more profitable empire from her victories in India. Cornwallis oversaw this expansion of British power, serving as Governor-General of India from 1786 to 1793 and again in 1805.
Military Pedigree
Cornwallis was the most aristocratic of the British commanders in America. Born in Grosvenor Square in London, he was the sixth child and oldest son of Charles, first- •
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
British Army officer (1738–1805)
For other uses, see Charles Cornwallis (disambiguation).
"Cornwallis" and "General Cornwallis" redirect here. For other uses, see Cornwallis (disambiguation) and General Cornwallis (disambiguation).
The Most Honourable The Marquess Cornwallis KGPC | |
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Portrait of Lord Cornwallis by Thomas Gainsborough, 1783 | |
| In office 30 July 1805 – 5 October 1805 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | William Pitt the Younger |
| Preceded by | The Marquess Wellesley |
| Succeeded by | Sir George Barlow, Bt As Acting Governor-General |
| In office 12 September 1786 – 28 October 1793 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | William Pitt the Younger |
| Preceded by | Sir John Macpherson, Bt As Acting Governor-General |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Shore |
| In office 14 June 1798 – 27 April 1801 | |
| Monarch | George III |
| Prime Minister | William Pitt the Younger |
| Preceded by | The Earl Camden |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Hardwicke |
| In office 1760–1762 | |
| Preceded by | Henry To
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