From the Battlefield to the Stage : The Many Lives of General John Burgoyne

The remarkable life of an ambitious and controversial soldier, successful playwright, reforming politician, and popular man about town. Known today chiefly for his surrender to the American forces at Saratoga in 1777, General John Burgoyne led a multidimensional life. From the __Battlefield to the Stage__ remembers him as not only a participant in one of Britain’s worst military disasters but also a brave soldier, successful playwright, reforming politician, and popular socialite. "Known today chiefly for his surrender to the American forces at Saratoga, New York, in 1777, General John Burgoyne was one of the most interesting--and extraordinary--figures of the eighteenth century. In From the Battlefield to the Stage Norman Poser provides a rounded biography, covering not only the Saratoga campaign but also elements of Burgoyne’s eventful life that have never been adequately explored. At the age of twenty-eight, Burgoyne eloped with the daughter of the immensely wealthy and influential Earl of Derby. Though initially furious, the earl, convinced of the young officer’s good character, eventually forgave the couple, and the Stanley family became a major influence in Burgoyne’s life and career. He was a socialite, welcome in London’s fashionable drawing rooms, a high-stakes gambler in its elite clubs, and a playwright whose social comedies were successfully performed on the London stage. As a member of Parliament for thirty years, Burgoyne supported the rule of law, fought the corruption of the East India Company, and advocated religious tolerance. From the Battlefield to the Stage paints a vivid portrait of General John Burgoyne, remembering him as not only for his role in one of Britain’s worst military disasters but also as a brave, talented, humane man."-- Provided by publisher. Known today chiefly for his surrender to the American forces at Saratoga, New York, in 1777, General John Burgoyne was one of the most interesting – and extraordinary – figures of the eighteenth century. In From the Battlefield to the Stage Norman Poser provides a rounded biography, covering not only the Saratoga campaign but also elements of Burgoyne's eventful life that have never been adequately explored. At the age of twenty-eight, Burgoyne eloped with Charlotte Stanley, the daughter of the immensely wealthy and influential Earl of Derby. Though initially furious, the earl, convinced of the young officer's good character, eventually forgave the couple, and the Stanley family became a major influence in Burgoyne's life and career. He was a socialite, welcome in London's fashionable drawing rooms, a high-stakes gambler in its elite clubs, and a playwright whose social comedies were successfully performed on the London stage. As a member of Parliament for thirty years, Burgoyne supported the rule of law, fought the corruption of the East India Company, and advocated religious tolerance. From the Battlefield to the Stage paints a vivid portrait of General John Burgoyne, remembering him not only for his role in one of Britain's worst military disasters but also as a brave, talented, humane man. Cover From the Battlefield to the Stage Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Early Days 2 Army, Elopement, Exile 3 Raiding the French Coast 4 Belle Île: Blood and Champagne 5 Portugal: Making a Reputation 6 A Soldier in Peacetime 7 The Preston Election 8 Politics and India 9 The Maid of the Oaks 10 A General without a Command 11 How to Plan a Disaster 12 The Saratoga Campaign: Before Crossing the Hudson 13 Dangerous Allies 14 The Saratoga Campaign: After Crossing the Hudson 15 The Captive Army 16 The Politics of Saratoga 17 Man of the Theatre 18 Last Days Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index