Birth of Charles Cornwallis
Birth of Charles Cornwallis
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Charles Cornwallis Biography and Timeline
Follow Charles Cornwallis through 23 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Charles Cornwallis, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
23Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1738–1805Years on this page
1738
1749
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 Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament
1776
Siege of New Jersey
Drives Wasington out of New Jersey
Role range: 1775-1783
1780
Battle of Camden
Defeats an American force led by General Gates
Role range: 1775-1783
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander of the South
Role range: 1775-1783
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander of the South
1781
Battle of Guildford
Despite victory Cornwallis cannot hold Georgia & the Carolinas
Role range: 1775-1783
Battle of Jamestown Ford
Defeats General Lafayette at Jamestown Ford, Virginia
Role range: 1775-1783
Battle of Yorktown
Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence
Role range: 1775-1783
Result of Surrender of Cornwallis's Army at Yorktown
Cornwallis's army is removed from the field, effectively ending major fighting in the American War of Independence.
Role range: 1775-1783
Surrender of Cornwallis's Army at Yorktown
Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence
Role range: 1775-1783
Peace
Washington allows 2 days for written peace proposals but insists on complete surrender
Role range: 1775-1783
1786
Governor
Appointed Governor General of India, 1st term
Role range: 1763-1809 – 1786-1793
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief, India
1791
Battle of Seringapatam
Defeats Sultan Tippu
1792
Peerage
Created Marquis Cornwallis, 1st
1798
Viceroy
Appointed Viceroy of Ireland
Role range: 1763-1809 – 1798-1801
Invasion of Ireland
Forces France to give up the invasion of Ireland by defeating a rebellion
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1798-1801
1801
Resignation of Charles Cornwallis
Resigns when the King fails to grant Catholic emancipation
Role range: 1763-1809 – 1798-1801
1802
Treaty of Amiens
Helps negotiate the Treaty of Amiens
Role range: 1800-1815 – 1798-1801
1805
Governor
Appointed Governor General of India, 2nd term
Role range: 1763-1809 – 1805-1805
Death of Charles Cornwallis
Death of Charles Cornwallis, on way to assume command of his troops
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.