BURGOYNE, bur-gain'. JOHN (1722-92). An English general in the American Revolutionary War, also known as a successful dramatist. He was reputed to be a natural son of Lord Bingley, but his father was Captain John Burgoyne. son of Sir John Burgoyne of Bedfordshire. He was educated at Westminster. where he made friends with Lord Strange. eldest son of the Earl of Derby. and presently eloped with his sister. Lady Charlotte Stanley. and married her in 1743. He had early entered the army, and through his marriage received promotion. In 1759, as lieu tenant-colonel of the Coldstream Guards, he served at Belle-Isle. On his initiative light cav alry was introduced in the British Army the same year. He was elected member of Parliament and gave evidence of statesmanship in criticising the colonial administration. In 1762 he commanded a force sent into Portugal for the defense of that kingdom against the Spaniards. where he sur prised and captured Alefintara. In 1775-76 he served in North America, and then returned to England. Ile landed in America again early in 1777. having been placed in command of a pow erful expedition with orders to penetrate from Canada into New York State. march smith along the valley of the Hudson, and join Howe's forces, so as to divide the American Confeder acy in twain. Including a body of *everal hun dred Indian:, the total force at his command when he set out was not far front 10.000 men. He captured Ticonderoga on July 6, but failed to preserve his communieations with Canada in the face of an ever watchful foe. On August 1(1 a detachment of his army was almost annihilat ed at Bennington by Stark. A severe engage ment with General Gates at Stillwater, on Sep tember 19, resulted unfavorably for the British.
Burgoyne now found himself beset. Ile fought a second battle at Stillwater (battle of Sara toga) on October 7, and suffered a decisive de feat. On October 17 he surrendered to Gates with between 5000 and 6000 men. The success of the Ameri•ans in this campaign was due in great measure to Schuyler. Washington allowed Bur goyne to return to England, where, denied audi ence of the King and refused a court-martial, he went over to the opposition party and re signed his appointments: but on a change of Ministry at the close of the American War he was appointed commander-in-chief in Ireland. He retired with his political friends two years after and devoted his time to literature. His writings include: State of the Expedition from Canada (1780; new ed., 1865), a vindication of his campaign; satires against Pitt's ad ministration (in the Westminshr Guide, 17831; and stage works, The llaid of the Oaks, The Lord of the Manor (comic opera libretto, 1780), and The Heiress (1786), a successful work subsequently translated into several lan guages. His last political appearance was as a manager of the impeachment of Warren Hast ings in 1787. He died suddenly. January 3, 1792, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Consult: De Fonblanque, Episodes from the Life and Correspondence of Burgoyne I London, 1576 ) ; O'Callaghan, ed.. Orderly Book of Lieutenant General John Burgoyne (Albany. 1860) : and Stone, Campaign of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne (Albany, 1877).