The Earl Cornwallis Essay

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The Earl Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, known as The Earl Cornwallis, had done a lot in his life although he had died at the age of 66 in October of 1805. Cornwallis was born at Grosvenor Square, London, December 31st of 1738. He was educated early on at Eton. To push off his military career Cornwallis purchased a commission as an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards on December 8, 1757, and attended the military academy at Turin, Italy. Before becoming apart of the American Revolution, Cornwallis serviced in Germany during the Seven Years’ War in 1759, fighting at Minden. (http://www.history.com/topics/charles-cornwallis,http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, Cornwallis presided fast to help in the war. . He returned Turin and spent much of the war in Germany. At first, he served as a staff officer for Lord Granby, but ascended quickly to become a captain in the 85th Regiment of Foot. Cornwallis was then promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 12th Foot in May 1761. He returned home in 1762 after the death of his father. Succeeding his father and as the 2nd Earl Cornwallis, he was elevated to the House of Lords. The House of Lords is the upper house of the British Parliament. (http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
When the Seven Years’ War ended in 1763, Cornwallis picked up in politics. He often voted in support of the American colonial position. He also aligned with Lord Rockingham, who supported constitutional rights for American Colonists. Cornwallis was a Constable of the Tower of London in 1771. He was promoted to major general by King George III in 1775 as Britain braced for war with the American colonies. (http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
The year of 1776 is when Cornwallis started to take part in the American Revolution. Promoted to lieutenant general, he was sent to the new world to work under Major General Henry Clinton. He assisted in a failed attempt to capture Charleston, South Carolina. Cornwallis did however play a role with Clinton and General Howe in the capture of New York City. Shortly after he was sent to compete for victory against Washington and failed when he was attacked Princeton. (http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
With blame for the defeat at Princeton, there was strained relations between Cornwallis and Clinton. But they able to gain some victories at the Battle of Brandywine,Germantown and Fort Mercer. Following the victories, Cornwallis took a short trip home and upon his return to American was made second in command. Due to a shortage of British troops in 1778, both generals were forced to march north back to New York where they were attacked again by Washington. Cornwallis lead a counter attack that ended in a draw with the British troops leaving the field. (http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
After again another trip back home, Cornwallis returned to America. When he arrived back he took over British forces in the south and with Clinton was able to capture Charleston in May 1780. The two generals then split and Clinton went back to New York while Cornwallis stayed in command on the southern troops. With orders from his superiors Cornwallis has to find more recruits for the troops so he started to encourage slaves to join the British forces. In August 1780, Cornwallis won the Battle of Camden, where the British army caused heavy casualties to rebel forces under the command of Horatio Gates. He then moved into North Carolina, where he was defeated at the Battle of Cowpens in January of 1781. (http://historyisfun.org/yorktown-chronicles/history/cornwallis.htm)
But Cornwallis’s luck turned around. The new commander of the Continental forces in the south, General Nathanael Greene, was defeated by Cornwallis’ troops at Guilford Courthouse in March of 1781. But the win took a toll on
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