Burgoyne John

Burgoyne, John, supposed by some to have been the natural son of Lord Bingley, was born in 1730 and educated at Westminster, entering the army very early. He made a runaway match with Lady Chariotte Stanley, daughter of the Earl of Derby, and was for some time in disgrace. In 1760, however, he was employed in the Belle Isle expedition, and next year sat for Midhurst in Parliament, until he went with Lord Loudoun to Portugal, where he displayed great skill and daring. He was elected on his return to represent Preston, and moved a vote of censure on Clive in 1773, but in 1775 was sent out to America with reinforcements, taking part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Two years later he was given the command of a force to co-operate against the colonists from the Canadian side. He took Ticonderoga and Fort Edward, but allowed himself to be cut off at Saratoga by Gates, and signed the famous capitulation which formed the turning point of the war. He defended his conduct with ability, and after a period of disfavour was restored to his rank in 1782, and made commander-in-chief in Ireland. He served as one of the managers in the impeachment of Warren Hastings. His leisure was devoted to poetry and the drama, for which he possessed some slight talent, his best and most successful play being The Heiress. He died in 1792.