1. General Charles O'Hara was a British Army officer who served in the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary War and later served as governor of Gibraltar.
21 Facts About Charles O'Hara
1. 2.
Charles O'Hara served with distinction during the American War of Independence, commanding a brigade of Foot Guards as part of the army of Charles Cornwallis and was wounded during the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
3.
Charles O'Hara offered the British surrender during the siege of Yorktown on behalf of his superior Charles Cornwallis and is depicted in the eponymous painting by John Trumbull.
4.
Charles O'Hara was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the illegitimate son of James O'Hara, 2nd Baron Tyrawley and Kilmaine ; and his Portuguese mistress.
5.
The development of Senegal was a disappointment for the British and Charles O'Hara was uninterested in civil governance.
6.
Charles O'Hara arrived in America and immediately commanded forces at Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
7.
Charles O'Hara became Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis' second-in-command and good friend.
8.
Charles O'Hara was severely wounded during this battle, but was able to remain with the army as it moved toward Yorktown, Virginia.
9.
Charles O'Hara's nephew, who was a lieutenant of the artillery, was killed during the battle.
10.
Charles O'Hara first attempted to surrender to French Comte de Rochambeau, who declined his sword and deferred to General George Washington.
11.
In 1784, Charles O'Hara fled from England to the Continent due to gambling debts.
12.
Charles O'Hara had been leading a bold sortie by the besieged British troops.
13.
Charles O'Hara was treated as an "insurrectionist" and was imprisoned in the Luxembourg Prison and threatened with the guillotine.
14.
Charles O'Hara thus has the distinction of having been the only person personally taken prisoner by both George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte.
15.
Charles O'Hara is known for the folly that was Charles O'Hara's Tower on Gibraltar and his debates with John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent over the redesign of Gibraltar to serve the needs of the British Fleet.
16.
Governor Charles O'Hara did not approve of St Vincent's plan as he proposed to finance it by selling the naval stores at Waterport and Irish Town.
17.
However, St Vincent had poor regard for Charles O'Hara, who let the garrison enjoy the ninety pubs on the Rock.
18.
Charles O'Hara discovered the plot and 1,000 people were exiled from the Rock.
19.
Charles O'Hara died in Gibraltar on 21 February 1802, from complications due to his old wounds and was buried on 25 February.
20.
The real Charles O'Hara is said to have spoken with an Irish accent and like many of his colleagues of the day, he shared in the hardships endured by the common soldiers under his command.
21.
Charles O'Hara was portrayed by Collin Sutton in the television show Turn: Washington's Spies.