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<h1>Charles Cornwallis</h1></div></header> <div class="wrapper"><div class="profile-photo"><figure><img src="/images/people/charles-cornwallis.jpg?w=360" width="360" height="450" alt="General and Colonial Administrator Charles Cornwallis"></figure></div> <p class="info"><b>Profession:</b> <a href="/people/generals">General</a> and Colonial Administrator</p> <div class="flag-photo"><b>Nationality:</b> <a href="/people/nationality/english"><figure><img src="/images/flags/england.svg" width="60" height="35" alt="England"><figcaption>English</figcaption></figure></a></div><p> <b>Biography:</b> Charles Cornwallis was a British army officer and colonial administrator, best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War. Despite his military and administrative skill, he is most often remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Yorktown, an event that effectively ended the Revolutionary War.<br> <br> Cornwallis served in various posts in the British Empire, but it was his role in the American Revolution that marked a significant period in his career. He initially gained success with victories in New York and New Jersey, but his campaign in the Southern colonies was fraught with difficulties. His strategic decision to move operations to Virginia resulted in the decisive siege at Yorktown, where Cornwallis was forced to surrender to American and French forces in 1781.<br> <br> Despite the setback in America, Cornwallis continued to serve the British Empire in key roles. He was appointed Governor-General and commander-in-chief in India, where he reformed the East India Company's practices and successfully led military campaigns. Later, he served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, where he helped maintain the union with Great Britain during a period of significant unrest.<br> <br> Notably, Cornwallis was also involved in the negotiation of the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which temporarily halted hostilities between Britain and Napoleonic France.</p> <p class="info"><b>Born:</b> <a href="/birthdays/december/31">December 31</a>, <a href="/birthdays/date/1738">1738</a><br> <b>Birthplace:</b> London, England, Great Britain <br><b>Star Sign:</b> <a href="/people/star-sign/capricorn">Capricorn</a></p> <p class="info no-margin-bottom"><b>Died:</b> <a href="/deaths/october/5">October 5</a>, <a href="/deaths/date/1805">1805</a> (aged 66)<br> <b>Cause of Death:</b> <a href="/people/cause-of-death/fever">Fever</a></p> <span class="list-clearfix"></span> <div class="sponsor--center"></div><header class="section__heading"><h2>Military Career</h2></header></div> <div class="section section--highlight section--pl"><div class="grid"> <div class="grid__item one-whole--768 five-twelfths--1024"> <header><h3 class="poi__heading"><a href="/articles/battle-that-gave-birth-to-the-usa" class="section__link"><img class="section--icon" src="/images/admiral.svg" loading="lazy" width="69" height="69" alt=""><span class="poi__heading-txt">Battle That Gave Birth To The USA</span></a></h3></header> <p><a href="/date/1781/september/5" class="date">1781-09-05</a> American Revolutionary War: French fleet of 24 ships under <a href="/people/comte-de-grasse">Comte de Grasse</a> defeat British forces under Admiral Thomas Graves and <a href="/people/samuel-hood">Samuel Hood</a> at the Battle of the Chesapeake [Battle of the Virginia Capes] and trap General Lord Charles Cornwallis </p></div> <div class="grid__item one-whole--768 seven-twelfths--1024"> <a href="/articles/battle-that-gave-birth-to-the-usa"><figure><picture><source media="(min-width:600px)" srcset="/images/articles/battle-of-the-virginia-capes.jpg?w=600 1x, /images/articles/battle-of-the-virginia-capes.jpg 2x" width="600" height="375"><img src="/images/articles/battle-of-the-virginia-capes.jpg?w=390" srcset="/images/articles/battle-of-the-virginia-capes.jpg?w=780 2x" loading="lazy" width="390" height="243" alt=""></picture> <figcaption>Battle of the Virginia Capes by Vladimir Zveg. US. Navy Art Collection, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, Norfolk, VA</figcaption></figure></a></div> </div></div> <span class="grid__sep"></span> <div class="section section--highlight section--pl"><div class="grid"> <div class="grid__item one-whole--768 five-twelfths--1024"> <header><h3 class="poi__heading"><a href="/photos/surrender-at-yorktown" class="section__link"><img class="section--icon" src="/images/victory-in-battle.svg" loading="lazy" width="69" height="69" alt=""><span class="poi__heading-txt">Surrender at Yorktown</span></a></h3></header> <p><a href="/date/1781/october/19" class="date">1781-10-19</a> British forces under General Charles Cornwallis sign terms of surrender to <a href="/people/george-washington">George Washington</a> and <a href="/people/comte-de-rochembeau">Comte de Rochambeau</a> at Yorktown at 2 p.m., effectively ending the American Revolutionary War </p></div> <div class="grid__item one-whole--768 seven-twelfths--1024"> <a href="/photos/surrender-at-yorktown"><figure><picture><source media="(min-width:600px)" srcset="/images/photos/surrender-at-yorktown.jpg?w=600 1x, /images/photos/surrender-at-yorktown.jpg 2x" width="600" height="396"><img src="/images/photos/surrender-at-yorktown.jpg?w=390" srcset="/images/photos/surrender-at-yorktown.jpg?w=780 2x" loading="lazy" width="390" height="257" alt=""></picture> <figcaption>'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War</figcaption></figure></a></div> </div></div> <div class="wrapper"><ul class="event-list"> <li class="event"><a href="/date/1786/february/24" class="date">1786-02-24</a> Charles Cornwallis appointed governor-general of India</li> </ul> <div class="sponsor--footer"></div><br><header class="section__heading"><a href="/people/generals" class="section__link"><h2>Famous Generals</h2></a></header><ul class="photo-list"><li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/alexander-haig-jr'><img src="/images/people/alexander-haig.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Alexander Haig</a></li> <li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/carl-gustaf-emil-mannerheim'><img src="/images/people/carl-gustaf-emil-mannerheim.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim</a></li> <li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/friedrich-wilhelm-von-steuben'><img src="/images/people/friedrich-wilhelm-von-steuben.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben</a></li> <li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/horatio-kitchener'><img src="/images/people/horatio-kitchener.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Horatio Kitchener</a></li> <li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/nathanael-greene'><img src="/images/people/nathanael-greene.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Nathanael Greene</a></li> <li class="photo-list__item "><a href='/people/stonewall-jackson'><img src="/images/people/stonewall-jackson.jpg" loading="lazy" width="180" height="225" alt="">Stonewall Jackson</a></li> </ul> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","url":"https://www.onthisday.com/people/charles-cornwallis","name":"Charles Cornwallis","image":"https://www.onthisday.com/images/people/charles-cornwallis.jpg?w=360","hasOccupation":"General","nationality":"English","description":"Charles Cornwallis was a British army officer and colonial administrator, best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War. Despite his military and administrative skill, he is most often remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Yorktown...","birthDate":"1738-12-31","birthPlace":"London, England, Great Britain","deathDate":"1805-10-05"}</script> </div></article></main> <div class="search section--search" id="search" style="display:none"> <div class="wrapper"> <form method="post" action="/search.php"> <ul class="search__list"> <li class="search__item"><input name="text" type="text" autocomplete="off" minlength="2" placeholder="Enter Date, Event or Person" value="" class="search__text" aria-label="Date, Event or Person"></li> <li class="search__item"><select name="day" class="search__select" aria-label="Day"> <option>All Days</option> <option value="1">1</option><option value="2">2</option><option value="3">3</option><option value="4">4</option><option value="5">5</option><option value="6">6</option><option value="7">7</option><option value="8">8</option><option value="9">9</option><option 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