Individual Details
(1722 - 1792)
"Educated at Westminster, entered the army at an early age. He became M.P. for Midhurst, 1761, having become the first commander of light infantry in the British Army in 1758. Becoming a Brig. Gen. in 1762, he greatly distinguished himself in Portugal in that year. At the close of the Seven years War, he devoted his time to politics and the drama, his first play being produced in 1775. He was Governor of Fort William, 1768-78, and M.P. for Preston, 1768. In 1776 he was second-in-command in Canada. promoted Lieut. Gen. in 1777, and given supreme command in Canada in the same year, he was actively involved in the War with the American colonies. Having made a fatal attempt to attack the colonists from Canada, he was surrounded at Saratoga by Gen. gates and the American Army, and was forced to surrender with 3, 500 men. Thereafter, he was deprived of his appointments, but these were restored to him in 1782, in which year he was made C-in-C in Ireland and sworn in of the Privy Council in Ireland. A manager of the impeachment of Warren Hastings, he ultimately retired into private life and again occupied himself with dramatic work. His most popular play - "The Heiress" - was published in 1786."
Events
| Birth | 1722 | England | | | |
| Marriage | 1743 | Charlotte Stanley |  | | |
| Death | 1792 | England | | | |
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