Cornwallis
8
9.4
- proper noun
- /kɔrnˈwɑlɪs/
- Beginning in 1778, British commanders at the highest level, including Lord George Germain, Sir Henry Clinton, and Charles Cornwallis, invested the bulk of British forces in this strategy.
Examples
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In October 1781, British General Cornwallis surrendered to American forces at Yorktown, marking a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War.
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After Cornwallis's defeat at Yorktown a year later, there was very little incentive left for Creeks to resist Americans at all.
Academic text (2014) -
I heard that the city now unfortunately came into British hands ... under General Cornwallis.
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And here is Lord Cornwallis, surrendering.
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With the joint Franco-American troops surrounding the small town, Lord Charles Cornwallis and his soldiers within were trapped.
Blog text (16) -
At the surrender, Cornwallis pleaded sick and had his subordinate Charles O'Hara take his place.
Blog text (16) -
During Cornwallis's Virginia campaign in 1781, the notorious Colonel Tarleton ransacked his home.
Blog text (4) -
He resumed his job as chief pilot of Georgia at the Savannah harbor and remained in the position several months after Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781.
Academic text (2007) -
The lively tune was played by the victorious troops at Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, and earlier, during the fighting, the Americans struck up the tune as they marched the British soldiers off to prison.
Academic text (1997) -
In order to prevent a column of 400 Virginia militiamen from joining up with Cornwallis' troops in the 1781 campaign, Lee and his men pretended to be sympathizers, and, having gained their confidence, attacked the Loyalist force and killed 90 men.
Blog text (17)
Synonyms
A British army commander and colonial governor who lost at Yorktown
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cornwallis comes from the English place Cornwall and originally meant 'a person from Cornwall'. So the surname shows the family came from that region, which is why General Cornwallis's name links him to that place.