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66-606: Major-General James Clinton (August 9, 1736 – September 22, 1812) was a Continental Army officer and politician who fought in the American Revolutionary War . During the war he, along with John Sullivan , led the 1779 Sullivan Expedition against the British-allied Iroquois . The Americans destroyed 40 villages as well as their winter stores of wheat and other produce. This forced 5,000 Iroquois to flee to British controlled Fort Niagara and caused

132-749: A Whig Burgoyne had been a supporter of the North government . Following his return from Saratoga he began to associate with the Rockingham Whigs . In 1782 when his political friends came into office, Burgoyne was restored to his rank, given the colonelcy of the King's Own Royal Regiment , made commander-in-chief in Ireland and appointed a privy councillor . After the fall of the Rockingham government in 1783, Burgoyne withdrew more and more into private life. His last public service

198-520: A Whig . For the next few years he occupied himself chiefly with his parliamentary duties, in which he was remarkable for his general outspokenness and, in particular, for his attacks on Lord Clive , who was at the time considered the nation's leading soldier. He achieved prominence in 1772 by demanding an investigation of the East India Company alleging widespread corruption by its officials and much later in life Burgoyne would take an active part in

264-546: A bayonet wound in the leg during the assault. In 1778 he was stationed in Albany to oppose Indian and Tory forces. In 1779, Clinton led an expedition down the Susquehanna River after making the upper portion navigable by damming up the river's source at Otsego Lake , allowing the lake's level to rise, and then destroying the dam and flooding the river for miles downstream. This event is described by James Fenimore Cooper in

330-458: A dramatist. Burgoyne has often been portrayed by historians and commentators as a classic example of the marginally-competent aristocratic British general who acquired his rank by political connections, rather than ability. However, accounts of those that served under him, particularly that of Corporal Roger Lamb, noted that Burgoyne "shunned no danger; his presence and conduct animated the troops (for they greatly loved their general)." Accounts of

396-456: A list of officers it recommends for promotion to general rank. This list is then sent to the service secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for review before it can be sent to the president , through the secretary of defense for consideration. The President nominates officers to be promoted from this list with the advice of the secretary of defense, the service secretary, and if applicable,

462-540: A ruthless and risk-taking general with a keen perception of his opponents and also a perceptive social and political commentator. Burgoyne has made appearances as a character in historical and alternative history fiction. He appears as a character in George Bernard Shaw 's play The Devil's Disciple and its 1959 and 1987 film adaptions, portrayed by Laurence Olivier and Ian Richardson respectively. Historical novels by Chris Humphreys that are set during

528-594: A significant role in those battles. Burgoyne's aide-de-camp Sir Francis Clerke was killed on 15 October. On 17 October 1777, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army, numbering 5,800. This was the greatest victory the American forces had up to that point in the Revolutionary War, and it proved to be the turning point in the war, as France entered into an alliance with the American Patriots. Burgoyne's journey through

594-461: A smaller force that would come down the Mohawk River valley under Barry St. Leger . This would divide New England from the southern colonies, and, it was believed, make it easier to end the rebellion. From the beginning, Burgoyne was vastly overconfident. Leading what he believed was an overwhelming force, he saw the campaign largely as a stroll that would make him a national hero who had saved

660-461: A wealthy Hackney merchant. There were rumours that Burgoyne was in fact the illegitimate son of Lord Bingley , who was his godfather . When Bingley died in 1731, his will specified that Burgoyne was to inherit his estate if his daughters had no male issue. From the age of 10, Burgoyne attended the prestigious Westminster School , as did many British army officers of the time such as Thomas Gage , with whom Burgoyne would later serve. Burgoyne

726-651: The British House of Commons from 1761 to 1792. As a member of the British Army he first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, most notably during the Spanish invasion of Portugal in 1762. Burgoyne is best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War . He designed an invasion scheme and was appointed to command a force moving south from Canada to split away New England and end

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792-720: The Coldstream Guards . In 1758, he participated in several expeditions against the French coast . During this period he was instrumental in introducing light cavalry into the British Army. The two regiments then formed were commanded by George Augustus Eliott (afterwards Lord Heathfield ) and Burgoyne. This was a revolutionary step, and Burgoyne was a pioneer in the early development of British light cavalry. Burgoyne admired independent thought amongst common soldiers, and encouraged his men to use their own initiative, in stark contrast to

858-720: The Continental Army . He served most of the war in the Northern Department, along the New York frontier . During the Saratoga Campaign in 1777, he commanded Fort Clinton in the Hudson Highlands. He participated in a successful effort to prevent British General Sir Henry Clinton from rescuing General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, but he and his troops were unable to hold Forts Clinton and Montgomery. Clinton sustained

924-714: The Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Army is a major general in the Army; the same rank is held by the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Air Force; the Army's Chief of Engineers is also appointed as a major general and thereafter promoted to lieutenant general. The United States Code also limits the total number of general officers that may be on the Reserve Active Status List (RASL) in

990-681: The Duc de Choiseul who would later become the Foreign Minister and directed French policy during the Seven Years War . While in Rome, Burgoyne had his portrait painted by the British artist Allan Ramsay . In late 1754, Burgoyne's wife gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, who was to prove to be the couple's only child. In the hope that a granddaughter would soften Derby's opposition to their marriage,

1056-582: The Hudson River . Clinton and Major Christopher Tappen, lifetime residents of the area, were sent to scout appropriate locations. Clinton was commissioned as colonel of the 3rd New York Regiment , which took part in Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery ’s unsuccessful expedition to Quebec in 1775. In March 1776, Clinton took command of the 2nd New York Regiment and soon after, in August, was promoted to brigadier general in

1122-555: The Impeachment of Warren Hastings . During the interwar years Burgoyne devoted much attention to art and drama (his first play, The Maid of the Oaks , was produced by David Garrick in 1775). In the army, he had been promoted to major-general and made Governor of Fort William (commander of the major British Army garrison in Scotland). At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War , he

1188-659: The War of the Austrian Succession led to an expansion in the size of the British Army . In April 1745, Burgoyne joined the newly raised 1st Royal Dragoons as a cornet , a commission he did not have to pay for as it was newly created. In April 1745, he was promoted to lieutenant. In 1747, Burgoyne managed to scrape the money together to purchase a captaincy . The end of the war in 1748 cut off any prospect of further active service. Through his friendship with Lord Strange, Burgoyne came to know Strange's sister, Lady Charlotte Stanley,

1254-711: The siege of Yorktown . After leaving he army, Clinton served on the commission defining the New York-Pennsylvania boundary. In 1783 General Clinton became an original member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati . He entered state politics, serving as an assemblyman in the New York State legislature from 1787 to 1788 and again from 1800 to 1801, and as a New York State Senator from 1788 to 1792. On February 18, 1765, James Clinton married Mary DeWitt (1737–1795),

1320-469: The "Sullivan-Clinton Campaign" or the " Sullivan Expedition ." They also attacked Seneca villages throughout western New York, destroying 40 as well as the winter stores of the people. Many Seneca fled to Canada and mortality was high that winter because of starvation. In 1780, Clinton temporarily commanded the Northern Department . By October 1781, his brigade had joined George Washington 's army in

1386-536: The Act of January 11, 1812, as preparations were being made for the War of 1812 . Major general has been a rank in the U.S. Army ever since. Until the American Civil War , major general was the highest rank that could be attained by an officer in the U.S. Army, though Winfield Scott had been given the brevet rank of lieutenant general in 1855. This was a consequence of the fact that at his death George Washington

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1452-537: The British cause. He was commissioned an ensign in 1757 and achieved the rank of captain in the New York Regiment in 1759. Commanding a company in 1758, he participated, along with his father (Colonel) and brother George (Lieutenant), in General John Bradstreet ’s capture of Fort Frontenac (now Kingston , Ontario). He and his brother played a key role in capturing a French vessel. Clinton remained in

1518-472: The Burgoynes returned to Britain in 1755. Lord Strange interceded on their behalf with Derby, who soon changed his mind and accepted them back into the family. Burgoyne soon became a favourite of Derby, who used his influence to boost Burgoyne's prospects. A month after the outbreak of the Seven Years' War , Burgoyne bought a commission in the 11th Dragoons . In 1758, he became captain and lieutenant-colonel in

1584-462: The Iroquois to become unable to survive the harsh winter of 1779–1780, with their population being reduced by up to half. He subsequently obtained the rank of brevet major general. After leaving the army, Clinton was a founding member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati and served as an assemblyman in the New York State legislature and later as a New York State Senator from 1788 to 1792. Clinton

1650-608: The Oaks and The Heiress , but his plays never reached the fame of his military career. He served as a member of the House of Commons for many years, sitting for the seats of Midhurst and Preston . John Burgoyne was born in Sutton , Bedfordshire on 24 February 1722, son of Army officer Captain John Burgoyne (died 1768; son of Sir John Burgoyne, 3rd Baronet ), of Sherbourne, Warwickshire , and Anna Maria, daughter of Charles Burneston,

1716-605: The Portuguese loss of Almeida . This played a major part in repulsing a large Spanish force bent on invading Portugal . Burgoyne's conduct during the invasion greatly impressed his superior; the Field Marshal Count La Lippe . La Lippe commissioned the 1766 portrait of Burgoyne by Joshua Reynolds and the painting was held by Lippe's descendants until 1943. In 1768, he was elected to the House of Commons for Preston as

1782-569: The Reserve Component, which is defined in the case of general officers as the Army National Guard , Army Reserve , Marine Corps Reserve , Air National Guard , and Air Force Reserve . To be promoted to the permanent grade of major general, officers who are eligible for promotion to this rank are screened by an in-service promotion board composed of other general officers from their branch of service. This promotion board then generates

1848-557: The army with loss of rank; a rare public rebuke of a high-ranking officer for which Burgoyne received widespread ridicule in Britain. He was not formally re-instated to the army until 1782 when the Whigs returned to power. Following the defeat, France recognised the United States and formally entered the war on 6 February 1778, transforming it into a global conflict. Although Burgoyne at the time

1914-646: The army, and was stationed at various frontier posts. In 1763 he raised and commanded a corps of two hundred men, who were designated as "Guards of the Frontier". After the war, he retired and married Mary De Witt. A month after the first open armed conflict in Lexington, the Continental Congress resolved on May 25, 1775, to build fortifications in the Hudson highlands for the purpose of protecting and maintaining control of

1980-455: The campaign single-handedly. He was not yet aware that he would not be gaining additional support, and was still reasonably confident of success. Having amassed an army of over 7,000 troops in Quebec, Burgoyne was also led to believe by reports that he could rely on the support of large numbers of Native Americans and American Loyalists who would rally to the flag once the British came south. Even if

2046-652: The capture of Fort Ticonderoga after winning the naval Battle of Valcour Island in October. The following year, having convinced King George III and his government of Carleton's faults, Burgoyne was given command of the British forces charged with gaining control of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River valley. The plan, largely of his own creation, was for Burgoyne and his force to cross Lake Champlain from Quebec and capture Ticonderoga before advancing on Albany, New York , where they would rendezvous with another British army under General Howe coming north from New York City, and

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2112-491: The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was hailed in Britain as a great victory, which even King George III is said to have celebrated and Burgoyne was subsequently promoted to lieutenant-general. Burgoyne's force however was eventually hemmed in by a superior force led by American Major General Horatio Gates . Several attempts to break through the enemy lines were repulsed at Saratoga in September and October 1777. Benedict Arnold played

2178-408: The countryside was not as pro-British as expected, much of the area between Lake Champlain and Albany was underpopulated anyway, and Burgoyne was skeptical any major enemy force could gather there. The campaign was initially successful. Burgoyne gained possession of the vital outposts of Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Edward , but, pushing on, decided to break his communications with Quebec. The news of

2244-657: The daughter of Lord Derby , one of Britain's leading politicians. After Derby refused permission for Burgoyne to marry Charlotte, they eloped together and married without his permission in April 1751. An outraged Derby cut his daughter off without a penny. Unable to support his wife otherwise, Burgoyne again sold his commission, raising £2,600, which they lived off for the next few years. In October 1751, Burgoyne and his new wife went to live in continental Europe travelling through France and Italy. While in France, Burgoyne met and befriended

2310-604: The disbanding of the Continental Army at the end of 1783 only one major general, Henry Knox , remained in service until his resignation in June 1784. The rank was revived on March 4, 1791, when Arthur St. Clair was appointed as major general in command of the U.S. Army. St. Clair was succeeded by Major General Anthony Wayne who commanded the Army (then named the Legion of the United States ) until his death on December 15, 1796. The rank

2376-514: The established system employed at the time by the British army. In 1761, he sat in parliament for Midhurst , and in the following year he served as a brigadier-general in Portugal which had just entered the war. Burgoyne won particular distinction by leading his cavalry in the capture of Valencia de Alcántara and of Vila Velha de Ródão following the Battle of Valencia de Alcántara , compensating for

2442-536: The father of DeWitt Clinton , who would also serve as Governor of New York. He was the grandson of James Clinton (d. 1718), and the great-grandson of William Clinton (1614–1684), a Royalist officer in the army of Charles I of England . James Clinton's military experience began in the French and Indian War (the North American front of the Seven Years' War), where he served in the provincial troops of New York in

2508-413: The historian Edmund Morgan , "was a great turning point of the war, because it won for Americans the foreign assistance which was the last element needed for victory". France had been supplying the North American colonists since the spring of 1776. Burgoyne and his officers returned to England; the enlisted men became prisoners of war. He came under sharp criticism when he returned to London. The rise of

2574-462: The introduction to his popular novel The Pioneers (1823). It is commemorated by an annual Memorial Day canoe race. At Tioga , New York, Clinton met up with General John Sullivan 's forces, who had marched from Easton , Pennsylvania. Together, on August 29, they defeated the Tories and British-allied Iroquois at the Battle of Newtown (near today's city of Elmira , New York). This became known as

2640-458: The lavish lifestyle that he maintained on the Saratoga campaign, combined with a gentlemanly bearing and his career as a playwright led less-than-friendly contemporaries to caricature him, as the historian George Billias wrote, "a buffoon in uniform who bungled his assignments badly." Much of the historical record, Billias noted, is based upon those characterisations. Billias considered Burgoyne to be

2706-508: The leave of the American general, to defend his conduct and demanded but never obtained an inquiry. He was deprived of his regiment and the governorship of Fort William in Scotland , which he had held since 1769. The government demanded that Burgoyne at once return to America to re-join the Convention Army and continue negotiations for its return. When Burgoyne refused he was gazetted out of

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2772-593: The libretto for William Jackson 's only successful opera, The Lord of the Manor (1780). He also wrote a translated semi-opera version of Michel-Jean Sedaine 's work Richard Coeur de lion with music by Thomas Linley the elder for the Drury Lane Theatre where it was very successful in 1788. Had it not been for his role in the American War of Independence, Burgoyne would most likely be foremost remembered today as

2838-562: The month after their 64th birthday. The Continental Army was established on June 15, 1775, when the Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as a general and placed him in command of the Army of Observation then besieging Boston . The rank of major general was first established two days later on June 17, 1775, when two major generals were commissioned by Congress. Two more major generals were appointed on June 19. Following

2904-430: The movements of two other large British forces under Generals Howe and Clinton, who would support the advance. However, Lord Germain 's orders dispatched from London were not clear on this point, with the effect that Howe took no action to support Burgoyne, and Clinton moved from New York too late and in too little strength to be any great help to Burgoyne. As a result of this miscommunication, Burgoyne ended up conducting

2970-485: The only daughter of Egbert DeWitt, members of a colonial Dutch family. They had seven children, including: His second wife was Mary ( née Little) Gray (1768–1835), the widow of Alexander Gray (1762–1795), who was born in Ireland. Together, James and Mary were the parents of six children: Clinton died in Little Britain , New York, on September 22, 1812, the same year as his brother George. Through his son DeWitt, he

3036-799: The other United States uniformed services which use naval ranks . It is abbreviated as MG in the Army, MajGen in the Marine Corps, and Maj Gen in the Air Force and Space Force. Major general is the highest permanent peacetime rank that can be conferred upon a commissioned officer in the uniformed services (except when General of the Army & General of the Air Force have been authorized and granted by Congress) as higher ranks are technically temporary and linked to specific positions, although virtually all officers promoted to those ranks are approved to retire at their highest earned rank. A major general typically commands division -sized units of 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. The Civil Air Patrol also uses

3102-451: The politically friendly Shelburne ministry in 1782 saw a brief revival of his military career. He was appointed commander-in-chief of crown forces in Ireland and appointed colonel of the 4th Regiment of Foot . However the return to power of the Tories in 1784 marked the end of Burgoyne's active service. Burgoyne was also an accomplished playwright, known for his works such as The Maid of

3168-695: The rank held by the commandant was raised to major general. It remained the highest rank in the Marine Corps until January 20, 1942, when the rank held by the commandant was raised to lieutenant general. Given that the United States Air Force evolved from its predecessors, the United States Army Air Service , the United States Army Air Corps (1926–1941), and the United States Army Air Forces (1941–1947),

3234-438: The rank of major general in the Air Force coincides with its establishment as an independent service in 1947. The United States Space Force became independent of the U.S. Air Force on 20 December 2019 and has a similar rank structure which includes the rank of major general. John Burgoyne General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British military officer, playwright and politician who sat in

3300-433: The rank of major general, which is its highest rank and is held only by its national commander . The United States Code explicitly limits the total number of general officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 231 for the Army, 62 for the Marine Corps, and 198 for the Air Force. Some of these slots are reserved or finitely set by statute. For example,

3366-452: The rebel colonies for the crown. Before leaving London, he had wagered Charles James Fox 10 pounds that he would return victorious within a year. He refused to heed more cautious voices, both British and American, that suggested a successful campaign using the route he proposed was impossible, as the failed attempt the previous year had shown. Underlining the plan was the belief that Burgoyne's aggressive thrust from Quebec would be aided by

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3432-456: The rebellion. Burgoyne advanced from Canada but his slow movement allowed the Americans to concentrate their forces. Instead of coming to his aid according to the overall plan, the British Army in New York City moved south to capture Philadelphia. Burgoyne fought two small battles near Saratoga but was surrounded by American forces and, with no relief in sight, surrendered his entire army of 6,200 men on 17 October 1777. His surrender, according to

3498-505: The rest of the garrison, which evacuated the city in March 1776. In 1776, he was at the head of the British reinforcements that sailed up the Saint Lawrence River and relieved Quebec City , which was under siege by the Continental Army . He led forces under General Guy Carleton in the drive that chased the Continental Army from the province of Quebec . Carleton then led the British forces onto Lake Champlain , but was, in Burgoyne's opinion, insufficiently bold when he failed to attempt

3564-428: The service's chief of staff or commandant. Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement of general officers (called flag officers in the Navy and Coast Guard ). All major generals must retire after five years in grade or 35 years of service, whichever is later, unless appointed for promotion or reappointed to grade to serve longer . Otherwise, all general officers must retire

3630-437: The wilderness of New York was hampered by his insistence of bringing 30 carriages of fine clothes and champagne. Rather than an outright unconditional surrender , Burgoyne had agreed to a convention that involved his men surrendering their weapons, and returning to Europe with a pledge not to return to North America. Burgoyne had been most insistent on this point, even suggesting he would try to fight his way back to Quebec if it

3696-524: Was Field Marshal John Fox Burgoyne , father of Hugh Talbot Burgoyne , VC . A grandchild of Burgoyne, Admiral Geoffrey Hornby was notable in helping to avert a war between the United States and Great Britain in the 19th century. In his time Burgoyne was a notable playwright, writing a number of popular plays. The most notable were The Maid of the Oaks (1774) and The Heiress (1786). He assisted Richard Brinsley Sheridan in his production of The Camp , which he may have co-authored. He also wrote

3762-438: Was appointed lieutenant general on March 9, 1864, and took command of the Union forces, he used the three-star insignia formerly assigned to that position. There was no major general in the U.S. Marine Corps until Commandant Charles Heywood was specially promoted by Act of Congress in July 1902. From his retirement on October 3, 1903, brigadier general was again the highest rank in the Marine Corps until May 21, 1908, when

3828-431: Was appointed to command British reinforcements, and arrived in Boston in May 1775, a few weeks after the first shots of the war had been fired. He participated as part of the garrison during the Siege of Boston , although he did not see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill , in which the British forces were led by William Howe and Henry Clinton . Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, he returned to England long before

3894-590: Was athletic and outgoing and enjoyed life at the school where he made numerous important friends, in particular Lord James Strange . In August 1737, Burgoyne purchased a commission in the Horse Guards , a fashionable cavalry regiment. They were stationed in London and his duties were light, allowing him to cut a figure in high society . He soon acquired the nickname "Gentleman Johnny" and became well known for his stylish uniforms and general high living which saw him run up large debts. In 1741 Burgoyne sold his commission, possibly to settle gambling debts. The outbreak of

3960-504: Was born in Ulster County in the colony of New York , at Little Britain in the town of New Windsor , now part of Orange County , New York. He was the third son of Col. Charles Clinton , an Anglo-Irish colonist and a colonel in the French and Indian War who immigrated to New Ulster in 1729, and his wife Elizabeth Denniston. He was the brother of George Clinton , who was elected and served as Governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and as U.S. Vice President from 1805 to 1812, and

4026-400: Was his participation in the impeachment of Warren Hastings . He died quite unexpectedly on 4 August 1792 at his home in Mayfair , after having been seen the previous night at the theatre in apparent good health. Burgoyne is buried in Westminster Abbey , in the North Walk of the Cloisters. After the death of his wife in 1776, Burgoyne had four children by his mistress Susan Caulfield; one

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4092-429: Was not agreed. Soon afterwards the Continental Congress repudiated the treaty and imprisoned the remnants of the army in Massachusetts and Virginia , where they were sometimes maltreated. This was widely seen as revenge for the poor treatment that prisoners-of-war of the Continental Army had received while imprisoned. Following Saratoga, the indignation in Britain against Burgoyne was great. He returned at once, with

4158-504: Was officially listed as holding the rank of lieutenant general, rather than full general , and it was regarded as improper for an officer to hold a rank equal to or superior to Washington's. To address this anomaly, Washington was posthumously promoted by Congress to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States in 1976. The position of Major General Commanding the Army was entitled to wear three stars according to General Order No. 6 of March 13, 1861. When Ulysses S. Grant

4224-421: Was revived on July 19, 1798, when Alexander Hamilton and Charles C. Pinckney were commissioned as major generals during the Quasi War with France. The expanded Army was demobilized on June 15, 1800, when it was reduced to only four regiments of infantry and two of artillery commanded by a brigadier general. The rank of major general was abolished in the U.S. Army by the Act of March 16, 1802, and restored by

4290-414: Was the grandfather of ten, including George William Clinton (1807–1885) who served as Mayor of Buffalo , New York from 1842 to 1843. Through his son George, he was the grandfather of three. Major general (United States) A major general ranks above a brigadier general and below a lieutenant general . The pay grade of major general is O-8. It is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in

4356-444: Was widely held to blame for the defeat, historians have over the years shifted responsibility for the disaster at Saratoga to Lord Germain , the Secretary of State for the Colonies . Germain had overseen the overall strategy for the campaign and had significantly neglected to order General Howe to support Burgoyne's invasion, instead leaving him to believe that he was free to launch his own attack on Philadelphia . Although elected as

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