Burgoyne, John
John Burgoyne, army officer (b in Eng 1722; d at London, Eng 3 Aug 1792). A distinguished cavalry officer and public figure, Burgoyne arrived in Québec in 1776 with large reinforcements, and served during the successful campaign of that year. In summer 1777 he led a force of 9000 soldiers southward along the Lake Champlain-Hudson River route with the objective of severing New England from the other colonies. After a series of costly battles, he was forced to surrender at Saratoga, New York, 17 October 1777, an event which led perhaps to the eventual American victory.