34 Facts About John Burgoyne

General John Burgoyne was a British general, dramatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1792.

John Burgoyne first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, most notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762.

John Burgoyne designed an invasion scheme and was appointed to command a force moving south from Canada to split away New England and end the rebellion.

John Burgoyne's surrender, according to the historian Edmund Morgan, "was a great turning point of the war, because it won for Americans the foreign assistance which was the last element needed for victory".

John Burgoyne came under sharp criticism when he returned to London and never held another active command.

John Burgoyne was an accomplished playwright, known for his works such as The Maid of the Oaks and The Heiress, but his plays never reached the fame of his military career.

John Burgoyne served as a member of the House of Commons for many years, sitting for the seats of Midhurst and Preston.

When Bingley died in 1731, his will specified that John Burgoyne was to inherit his estate if his daughters had no male issue.

John Burgoyne was athletic and outgoing and enjoyed life at the school where he made numerous important friends, in particular Lord James Strange.

John Burgoyne soon acquired the nickname "Gentleman Johnny" and became well known for his stylish uniforms and general high living which saw him run up large debts.

In 1741 John Burgoyne sold his commission, possibly to settle gambling debts.

In late 1754, John Burgoyne's wife gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, who was to prove to be the couple's only child.

John Burgoyne soon became a favourite of Derby, who used his influence to boost John Burgoyne's prospects.

John Burgoyne admired independent thought amongst common soldiers, and encouraged his men to use their own initiative, in stark contrast to the established system employed at the time by the British army.

John Burgoyne won particular distinction by leading his cavalry in the capture of Valencia de Alcantara and of Vila Velha de Rodao following the Battle of Valencia de Alcantara, compensating for the Portuguese loss of Almeida.

John Burgoyne achieved prominence in 1772 by demanding an investigation of the East India Company alleging widespread corruption by its officials.

John Burgoyne participated as part of the garrison during the Siege of Boston, although he did not see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, in which the British forces were led by William Howe and Henry Clinton.

John Burgoyne led forces under General Guy Carleton in the drive that chased the Continental Army from the province of Quebec.

John Burgoyne refused to heed more cautious voices, both British and American, that suggested a successful campaign using the route he proposed was impossible, as the failed attempt the previous year had shown.

John Burgoyne was not yet aware that he would not be gaining additional support, and was still reasonably confident of success.

John Burgoyne gained possession of the vital outposts of Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Edward, but, pushing on, decided to break his communications with Quebec, and was eventually hemmed in by a superior force led by American Major General Horatio Gates.

Rather than an outright unconditional surrender, John Burgoyne had agreed to a convention that involved his men surrendering their weapons, and returning to Europe with a pledge not to return to North America.

John Burgoyne had been most insistent on this point, even suggesting he would try to fight his way back to Quebec if it was not agreed.

John Burgoyne returned at once, with the leave of the American general, to defend his conduct and demanded but never obtained a trial.

John Burgoyne was deprived of his regiment and the governorship of Fort William in Scotland, which he had held since 1769.

Previously John Burgoyne had been a Tory-leaning supporter of the North government but following his return from Saratoga he began to associate with the Rockingham Whigs.

In 1782 when his political friends came into office, John Burgoyne was restored to his rank, given the colonelcy of the King's Own Royal Regiment, made commander-in-chief in Ireland and appointed a privy councillor.

John Burgoyne is buried in Westminster Abbey, in the North Walk of the Cloisters.

John Burgoyne wrote the libretto for William Jackson's only successful opera, The Lord of the Manor.

John Burgoyne wrote a translated semi-opera version of Michel-Jean Sedaine's work Richard Coeur de lion with music by Thomas Linley the elder for the Drury Lane Theatre where it was very successful in 1788.

John Burgoyne has often been portrayed by historians and commentators as a classic example of the marginally-competent aristocratic British general who acquired his rank by political connections, rather than ability.

Billias considered John Burgoyne to be a ruthless and risk-taking general with a keen perception of his opponents and a perceptive social and political commentator.

John Burgoyne has made appearances as a character in historical and alternative history fiction.

John Burgoyne appears as a character in George Bernard Shaw's play The Devil's Disciple and its 1959 and 1987 film adaptions, portrayed by Laurence Olivier and Ian Richardson respectively.