ster School and joined
the army at the age of 15
as a brigadier (corporal)
of the Third Horse
Guards. Burgoyne subse-
quently transferred to the
13th Light Dragoons as a
coronet (cavalry ensign),
rising to lieutenant in
- Two years later the
young man had a tryst
with 15-year-old Lady
Charlotte Stanley, daugh-
ter of the Earl of Derby,
and eloped. This act so
enraged the father that he
summarily cut off his
daughter. The couple lived
happily in London over
the next three years be-
fore Burgoyne’s gambling
debts forced him to sell
his commission and live
in France. Possessing a
polished, inquisitive mind,
Burgoyne immersed him-
self in French language, literature, and cul-
ture. Despite his military background, the
young man had always aspired to be a play-
wright.
By 1755, France and England were edging
closer to war, and Burgoyne moved his family
back to England, where a reconciliation with
his father-in-law was concluded. Thereafter,
the Earl of Derby used his political influence
to arrange Burgoyne’s appointment as a cap-
tain in the 11th Dragoon Regiment and, subse-
quently, as a lieutenant colonel in the elite
Coldstream Guards. During the Seven Years’
War (1755–1763), Burgoyne participated in
several amphibious raids along the French
coast in 1758–1759 and also raised the 16th
Regiment of Light Dragoons. This was one of
the first such “light cavalry” outfits created for
the British army, especially trained for screen-
ing and outpost duty. Burgoyne capitalized on
his rising reputation to gain election to Parlia-
ment in 1762, and the following year he distin-
guished himself by fight-
ing in Spain at the behest
of Portugal. The young
soldier led several gallant
charges that routed sev-
eral Spanish camps, and
he even captured an
enemy general. As a
leader, Burgoyne also
stood out from contem-
poraries by insisting that
officers treat their sol-
diers with humanity and
respect. He returned to
England a popular war
hero and spent the next
decade gambling, social-
izing, and writing plays.
In 1773, this attractive, if
somewhat pompous, indi-
vidual advanced to major
general.
On the eve of the
American Revolution, Bur-
goyne was dispatched to
Boston along with Gens.
Henry Clintonand William Howe. He was
on hand to witness the costly Battle of
Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, and wrote sev-
eral letters critical of his superior, Gen.
Thomas Gage. Burgoyne’s only real activity
was to compose proclamations to the rebels,
which were verbose and openly ridiculed.
Seeking more active employment, Burgoyne
then returned to England and lobbied his po-
litical friends. The following spring he trans-
ferred to Canada to serve under Gen. Guy
Carletonas a lieutenant general. He actively
campaigned in the defense of Quebec and on
June 8, 1776, directed forces that drove Gen.
Benedict Arnoldaway from the Trois Riv-
ieres district. However, Burgoyne disliked
subordination under the stodgy Carleton, and,
furthermore, recent successes stirred up his
considerable military ambition.
After much pondering, the general returned
again to England that fall and advanced his
strategy for winning the war. He had sinceBURGOYNE, JOHN
John Burgoyne
National Archives