Burgoyne, << buhr GOYN, >> John (1723-1792), was a British general of the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). In 1777, he submitted a plan to the British government for invading New York state from Canada and meeting other British troops in the state. He argued that such an invasion would end American resistance to British forces by cutting off New England from the other colonies. Burgoyne was given command of an army.
Burgoyne advanced his troops to near Albany, New York. There he lost almost 1,000 men in a battle near Bennington, Vermont. Soon he was surrounded by a much larger American army under General Horatio Gates. Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, New York, on Oct. 17, 1777. This battle helped bring France into the war as an ally of the United States and has been called one of the most decisive battles of history. Burgoyne was born in Bedfordshire on Jan 4, 1723 (Jan. 4, 1722, according to the calendar then in use). He became a major general in 1772 and lieutenant general in August 1777. Burgoyne died on Aug. 4, 1792.
See also Fort Ticonderoga, Battle of ; Saratoga, Battle of .
