38 Facts About Banastre Tarleton

Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British general and politician.

Banastre Tarleton is best known as the lieutenant colonel leading the British Legion at the end of the American Revolution.

Banastre Tarleton later served in Portugal and held commands in Ireland and England.

Banastre Tarleton came from a family of slavers, and reflected that during his political career, where he was a prominent opponent of British abolitionists.

Banastre Tarleton was elected as a member of Parliament.

Banastre Tarleton was educated at the Middle Temple, London and went to University College, Oxford, in 1771, preparing for a career as a lawyer.

Banastre Tarleton squandered almost all of it in less than a year on gambling and women, mostly at the Cocoa Tree club in London.

Banastre Tarleton sailed with Lord Cornwallis as part of an expedition to capture the southern city of Charleston, South Carolina.

Major Banastre Tarleton was at the Battle of Brandywine and at other battles in the campaigns of 1777 and 1778.

Nonetheless, Banastre Tarleton's forces ignored the white flag and massacred the soldiers of Buford's detachment; 113 American soldiers were killed, 203 were captured, and 150 were severely wounded.

An eye-witness, the American field surgeon Robert Brownfield, wrote that Colonel Buford raised the white flag of surrender to the British Legion, "expecting the usual treatment sanctioned by civilized warfare"; yet, while Buford called for quarter, Colonel Banastre Tarleton's horse was shot with a musket ball, felling horse and man.

Banastre Tarleton's account, published in 1787, said that his horse had been shot from under him, and that his soldiers, thinking him dead, engaged in "a vindictive asperity not easily restrained".

In contrast, Colonel Banastre Tarleton alienated the colonial citizens with arbitrary confiscations of cattle and food stocks.

Banastre Tarleton was able to escape capture by forcing Goudylock to serve as a guide.

Banastre Tarleton was trying to capture Governor Thomas Jefferson and members of the Virginia legislature.

Banastre Tarleton destroyed arms and munitions and succeeded in dispersing the Assembly.

Banastre Tarleton was unhorsed, and Lauzun's Legion drove the British within their lines before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy.

Banastre Tarleton returned to Britain on parole, finished with this war at the age of 27.

Banastre Tarleton had lost two fingers from a musket ball received in his right hand during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, but "his crippled hand was to prove an electoral asset" back home.

Banastre Tarleton portrayed his own actions in the Carolinas favourably and questioned decisions made by Cornwallis.

Banastre Tarleton was a supporter of Charles James Fox despite their opposing views on the British role in the American War of Independence.

Banastre Tarleton spoke on military matters and a variety of other subjects.

Banastre Tarleton was noted for his proslavery attitudes, supporting the slave trade due to its importance to the Liverpool economy as a major shipping port in the triangular trade.

Banastre Tarleton worked to preserve the slavery business with his brothers Clayton and Thomas, and he became well known for his taunting and mockery of the British abolitionists.

Banastre Tarleton was appointed governor of Berwick and Holy Island in 1808.

Banastre Tarleton continued to serve in the army and was promoted to colonel on 22 November 1790, to major-general on 4 October 1794 and to lieutenant-general on 1 January 1801.

Whilst on service in Portugal, Banastre Tarleton succeeded William Henry Vane, 3rd Earl of Darlington as colonel of the Princess of Wales's Fencible Dragoons in 1799.

Banastre Tarleton was appointed colonel of the 21st Light Dragoons on 24 July 1802.

Banastre Tarleton was brevetted to general on 1 January 1812.

Banastre Tarleton had hoped to be appointed to command British forces in the Peninsular War, but the position was instead given to Wellington.

Banastre Tarleton held a military command in Ireland and another in England.

Banastre Tarleton had a 15-year relationship with the actress and writer Mary Robinson whom he initially seduced on a bet.

Banastre Tarleton was an ex-mistress of the future King George IV while he was still Prince of Wales.

Banastre Tarleton was important to his parliamentary career, writing many of his speeches.

Banastre Tarleton's portrait was painted by both Joshua Reynolds, who showed him at battle in the American Revolution, and Thomas Gainsborough.

Banastre Tarleton ultimately married Susan Bertie, the young, illegitimate and wealthy daughter of the 4th Duke of Ancaster in 1798.

Banastre Tarleton did however, father an illegitimate daughter in 1797, prior to his marriage.

Banastre Tarleton introduced to the British Legion, and wore himself, a leather helmet with antique style applications and a fur plume protruding far into the upper front side.