World History Database · Biography facts · Archive · Great Britain · Cornwallis · Charles Cornwallis

Historical person

Charles Cornwallis Biography

Historical biography and chronological timeline for Charles Cornwallis, based on 23 World History Database records associated with Great Britain.

23 records1738–180520 events10 places

Chronological biography

1738

Birth of Charles Cornwallis1738

Warfare / Military · Marquis

Birth of Charles Cornwallis

1749

Halifax1749

Warfare / Military · Marquis · Major General · Halifax

Halifax is founded in Nova Scotia to rival the French port of Louisburg. Cornwallis names Halifax after the Earl of Halifax

1760

Member of Parliament1760

House / House of Cornwallis · Marquis · Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament

1776

Siege of New Jersey1776

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · New Jersey

Drives Wasington out of New Jersey

1780

Commander in Chief1780

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander of the South

Commander in Chief1780

Warfare / Military · Marquis · Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander of the South

Battle of Camden16 August 1780

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Camdem

Defeats an American force led by General Gates

1781

Peace1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Washington

Washington allows 2 days for written peace proposals but insists on complete surrender

Battle of Guildford15 March 1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Guildford

Despite victory Cornwallis cannot hold Georgia & the Carolinas

Battle of Jamestown Ford6 July 1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Jamestown Ford

Defeats General Lafayette at Jamestown Ford, Virginia

Battle of Yorktown19 October 1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Yorktown

Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence

Result of Surrender of Cornwallis's Army at Yorktown19 October 1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Yorktown

Cornwallis's army is removed from the field, effectively ending major fighting in the American War of Independence.

Surrender of Cornwallis's Army at Yorktown19 October 1781

Warfare / American War of Independence · Marquis · Major General · Yorktown

Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence

1786

Commander in Chief1786

Warfare / Military · Marquis · Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief, India

Governor1786

Government / Whig Party Government · Marquis · Governor General

Appointed Governor General of India, 1st term

1791

Battle of Seringapatam1791

Warfare / Mysore Wars, 3rd · Marquis · Commander in Chief · Seringapatam

Defeats Sultan Tippu

1792

Peerage1792

House / House of Cornwallis · Marquis · Commander in Chief

Created Marquis Cornwallis, 1st

1798

Invasion of Ireland1798

Warfare / Napoleonic Wars · Marquis · Viceroy of Ireland

Forces France to give up the invasion of Ireland by defeating a rebellion

Viceroy1798

Government / Whig Party Government · Marquis · Viceroy of Ireland

Appointed Viceroy of Ireland

1801

Resignation of Charles Cornwallis1801

Government / Whig Party Government · Marquis · Viceroy of Ireland

Resigns when the King fails to grant Catholic emancipation

1802

Treaty of Amiens1802

Warfare / Napoleonic Wars · Marquis · Viceroy of Ireland · Amiens

Helps negotiate the Treaty of Amiens

1805

Death of Charles Cornwallis1805

Warfare / Military · Marquis · Governor General · Ghazipur

Death of Charles Cornwallis, on way to assume command of his troops

Governor1805

Government / Whig Party Government · Marquis · Governor General

Appointed Governor General of India, 2nd term

Titles and roles

Marquis · Marquis · Commander in Chief · Marquis · Governor General · Marquis · Major General · Marquis · Member of Parliament · Marquis · Viceroy of Ireland

Record provenance

This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.