page_title: Cornwallis in North America
hierarchical_section_title: Cornwallis in North America
caption_attribution_description: English: This painting depicts the forces of British Major General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738–1805) (who was not himself present at the surrender), surrendering to French and American forces after the Siege of Yorktown (September 28 – October 19, 1781) during the American Revolutionary War. The central figures depicted are Generals Charles O'Hara and Benjamin Lincoln. The United States government commissioned Trumbull to paint patriotic paintings, including this piece, for them in 1817, paying for the piece in 1820. Français&#160;: Ce tableau dépeint la reddition de l'armée du général britannique Charles Cornwallis, 1er marquis Cornwallis (1738–1805) (qui n'était pas à la scène lui-même), aux forces françaises et américaines après le siège de Yorktown (28 septembre – 10 octobre 1781) durant la guerre d'indépendance américaine. Les hommes centraux sont le général britannique Charles O'Hara et le général américain Benjamin Lincoln. Cette peinture à l'huile sur toile fut exécutée par l'artiste américain John Trumbull en 1817. Il fut acheté par le gouvernement américain en 1820.
context_page_description: Charles, Earl Cornwallis was a military officer who served in the British Army during the American War of Independence. He is best known for surrendering his army after the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, an act that ended major hostilities in North America and led directly to peace negotiations and the eventual end of the war.
  Born into an aristocratic family with a history of public service, Cornwallis was politically opposed to the war, but agreed to serve when it became clear that Britain would require a significant military presence in the Thirteen Colonies. First arriving in May 1776, he participated in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, before joining the main army under General William Howe. He played a notable role in the partially successful New York and New Jersey campaign when George Washington successfully eluded him after the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and inflicted a decisive defeat on troops left at his rear in the Battle of Princeton.
  Cornwallis was also involved in the Philadelphia campaign, leading a wing of Howe's army, before he became one of the leading figures of the British "southern strategy" to gain control of the southern colonies.
context_section_description: Charles, Earl Cornwallis (1738–1805) was a military officer who served in the British Army during the American War of Independence.  He is best known for surrendering his army after the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, an act that ended major hostilities in North America and led directly to peace negotiations and the eventual end of the war.
  Born into an aristocratic family with a history of public service, Cornwallis was politically opposed to the war, but agreed to serve when it became clear that Britain would require a significant military presence in the Thirteen Colonies.  First arriving in May 1776, he participated in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, before joining the main army under General William Howe.  He played a notable role in the partially successful New York and New Jersey campaign when George Washington successfully eluded him after the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and inflicted a decisive defeat on troops left at his rear in the Battle of Princeton.
  Cornwallis was also involved in the Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778), leading a wing of Howe's army, before he became one of the leading figures of the British "southern strategy" to gain control of the southern colonies.  In that role he successfully led troops that gained a measure of control and influence in South Carolina before heading into North Carolina.  There, despite successes like his victory at the Battle of Camden, which burnished his reputation, wings of his army were decisively defeated at Kings Mountain and Cowpens.  After a Pyrrhic victory at Greensboro, North Carolina, Cornwallis moved his battered army to Wilmington to rest and resupply.
  From Wilmington, Cornwallis, in a move that became a subject of contemporary and historical debate, led his army into Virginia, where he joined with other British troops that had been raiding economic and military targets in that colony.  Ineffectually opposed by a smaller Continental Army under the Marquis de Lafayette, he was eventually ordered to establish a well-defended port by General Henry Clinton.  Poor communications in the British establishment and French naval superiority over the Chesapeake Bay caused him to become entrapped at Yorktown without the possibility of reinforcement; he surrendered after three weeks of siege, on October 17, 1781.  He was released on parole, and returned to England in December of that year.  He and General Clinton engaged in a highly public exchange after the 1781 campaign in which each sought to deflect blame for its failure.
caption: Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull
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