# John Burgoyne

> British general and playwright (1722–1792)

**Wikidata**: [Q436775](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q436775)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Burgoyne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-burgoyne

## Summary

John Burgoyne was born on February 24, 1722, in Sutton.[1][2][3][4] He worked as a politician, playwright, writer, and military personnel. His father was John Burgoyne, and his mother was Anna Maria.[5][6]He had spouses Susan Caulfield and Charlotte Stanley (1749–present).[7] His children were John Fox Burgoyne, Maria Sophia Burgoyne, and Charlotte Elizabeth Burgoyne.[5][7]He died on August 4, 1792, in London.[2][1]

## Summary
John Burgoyne was a British general and playwright who lived from 1722 to 1792. He is best known for his military service during the American Revolutionary War and the Seven Years' War, as well as for his literary contributions as a dramatist and writer.

## Biography
- **Born**: February 24, 1722
- **Died**: August 4, 1792 (also recorded as June 4, 1792)
- **Nationality**: Kingdom of Great Britain
- **Education**: Westminster School
- **Known for**: Military leadership and playwriting
- **Occupations**: General, Playwright, Writer, Politician, Military Personnel
- **Field(s)**: Military, Literature, Politics

## Contributions
John Burgoyne led military operations and authored theatrical works. He served as a general in the British Army, participating in significant campaigns. He was affiliated with Westminster School. He pursued a career in politics and wrote plays, contributing to the literary culture of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

## FAQs
**What military conflicts was John Burgoyne involved in?**
John Burgoyne participated in the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of the Austrian Succession. Specific battles included the Battle of Vila Velha, Battle of Valencia de Alcántara, Siege of Boston, Battle of Bunker Hill, Invasion of Quebec, Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, Battles of Saratoga, and the Raid on Cherbourg.

**What were John Burgoyne's professions?**
He was a general, playwright, writer, politician, and military personnel.

**Where was John Burgoyne educated?**
He was educated at Westminster School.

## Why They Matter
John Burgoyne played a role in major historical events that shaped the modern world, particularly the American Revolutionary War. His involvement in the Battles of Saratoga marked a turning point in that conflict. As a playwright, he contributed to the cultural landscape of the Kingdom of Great Britain during the 18th century.

## Notable For
- Serving as a British General during the American Revolutionary War and Seven Years' War.
- Authoring plays as a dramatist.
- Holding political office as a politician.
- Participation in the Battles of Saratoga.
- Education at Westminster School.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
John Burgoyne was born on February 24, 1722. He attended Westminster School, a public school located in Westminster, London, England. The school was founded in 1179 and refounded in 1560.

### Military Career
Burgoyne served as a general in the British Army. His military career spanned several major conflicts:
- **War of the Austrian Succession** (1740–1748)
- **Seven Years' War** (1756–1763): He participated in the Raid on Cherbourg in 1758. He also fought in the Battle of Vila Velha and the Battle of Valencia de Alcántara in 1762.
- **American Revolutionary War** (1775–1783): He was involved in the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. He led the Invasion of Quebec in 1775. In 1777, he was present at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga and the Battles of Saratoga, the latter being a major turning point of the war.

### Literary and Political Career
In addition to his military service, John Burgoyne was a playwright and writer. He was also active in politics, serving as a politician within the Kingdom of Great Britain.

### Historical Context
Burgoyne lived during the existence of the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800), a constitutional monarchy in Western Europe formed by the union of England and Scotland. The capital was London, and the currency was the pound sterling. The population during his lifetime grew from approximately 10.5 million in 1752 to 9.25 million in 1789. The kingdom was a pioneer in the Industrial Revolution and experienced significant economic growth. Major political parties included the Whigs and the Tories. The kingdom was succeeded by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

### Death
John Burgoyne died in 1792. Records indicate his death date as August 4, 1792, with an alternative record of June 4, 1792.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. The Peerage
5. Genealogics
6. Source
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. [Source](https://archive.org/details/literarylandmark00swi/page/36/mode/2up)
9. SNAC
10. Find a Grave
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013