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Glite Dictionary
First Marquess Cornwallis

First Marquess Cornwallis

9.8
A British army commander and colonial governor who lost at Yorktown
  • proper noun
: Primer Marqués Cornwallis
  • The British defeat at Yorktown under First Marquess Cornwallis marked the end of major combat operations in the American Revolution.

Examples

  • First Marquess Cornwallis played a pivotal role in the final stages of the American War of Independence.

  • After the war, First Marquess Cornwallis went on to serve as governor-general of India.

  • The First Marquess Cornwallis was a key figure in the American War of Independence.

  • Did the First Marquess Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown?

  • During the American War of Independence, First Marquess Cornwallis famously commanded the British troops at the Siege of Yorktown.

  • Following his defeat at Yorktown, First Marquess Cornwallis returned to England where he faced criticism for the loss.

  • As a colonial administrator, First Marquess Cornwallis implemented significant reforms while serving as governor-general in India.

Synonyms

Cornwallis
vsFirst Marquess Cornwallis
8 9.4

A British general who surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown in 1781

emphasizes leadership role and states the Yorktown defeat as a factual event

Surface Forms

First Marquess Cornwallis main

Morphology

first + Marquess + Cornwallis

The phrase is a literal personal title made from 'first' (ordinal), 'Marquess' (a noble rank) and 'Cornwallis' (a surname), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it denotes the (first) marquess named Cornwallis. This is purely compositional and non-idiomatic — learners may lack biographical knowledge of the individual but can understand it refers to a titled historical person.

Etymology

First Marquess Cornwallis is the title of Charles Cornwallis, a British general who is best known for his 'surrender' at Yorktown in the American War of Independence and for later service in India. So, when you see First Marquess Cornwallis, think of the British commander whose surrender helped end the main fighting in the American Revolution.