A veteran of the Seven Years' War, British general John Burgoyne is best remembered for his defeat in the second Battle of Saratoga in the fall of 1777. Following his capture of Fort Ticonderoga and initial successes, his weakened forces fell to American troops led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. The American victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolution and led to French recognition and participation in the colonial cause.
More to Explore
People and Groups
Themes
Related Topics
Recommended Articles
-
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured British-held Fort Ticonderoga, the first American victory of the Revolutionary War.
-
Battle of Saratoga
Fought eighteen days apart in the fall of 1777, the two Battles of Saratoga were a turning point in the American Revolution.
-
Benedict Arnold
A hero of the Revolutionary War who later betrayed the United States, Arnold's name became synonymous with the word traitor.
-
American Revolution
During the American Revolution, Great Britain's 13 American colonies rose up in insurrection and won their independence.
Did You Know?
John Burgoyne was a long-time member of the British Parliament, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
After serving with distinction in the Seven Years' War (1756–63), Burgoyne was elected to the House of Commons in 1761 and again in 1768. Assigned to Canada in 1776 as a major general, he entered into an offensive in which British armies from the north (Burgoyne's troops), south (General Sir William Howe's), and west (Colonel Barry St. Leger's) would unite at Albany, New York, isolating New England from the other rebellious colonies.
Burgoyne's force captured Fort Ticonderoga, New York, on July 6, 1777, but, after reaching the Hudson River, was fought to a standstill by a much larger army commanded successively by General Philip Schuyler and General Horatio Gates, who were brilliantly assisted by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Exhausting his food and ammunition and receiving no aid from Howe (who chose to fight in Pennsylvania) or St. Leger (who was defeated at Oriskany, New York, and withdrew westward), Burgoyne had to surrender to Gates north of Saratoga Springs on October 17, 1777.
Paroled along with his troops, he returned to England, where he faced severe criticism. For a short time (1782–83) he was commander in chief in Ireland, but he retired increasingly to private life, in which he was a leader of London society and fashion. He also wrote several plays, of which the most successful was The Heiress (1786).
Copyright © 1994-2009 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
Related Shows
-
America The Story of Us
America The Story of Us is an epic 12-hour television event that tells the extraordinary story of how America was invented.
This Day in History
Feb 22
Lead Story
U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice, 1980
In one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympic history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of college players, defeats the four-time defending…
Shop HISTORY
-
The Color Of War DVD Set
Own this groundbreaking series featuring authentic color footage of World War II.
$49.95
-
Engineering an Empire: Collector's Edition DVD Set
As grand as the empires themselves, this is an indispensable collection.
$24.99
-
Email Updates
Keep up with the latest History shows, online features, special offers and more.
Sign up
