Cornwallis, Richard Middleton
Cornwallis, Richard Middleton
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Cornwallis
Soldier and Statesman in a Revolutionary World

Author: Richard Middleton

Narrator: Shaun Grindell

Unabridged: 14 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 03/22/2022


Synopsis

The first biography of Charles Cornwallis in forty years—the soldier, governor, and statesman whose career covered America, India, Britain, and Ireland

Charles, First Marquis of Cornwallis (1738–1805), was a leading figure in late eighteenth-century Britain. His career spanned the American War of Independence, Irish Union, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the building of the Second British Empire in India—and he has long been associated with the unacceptable face of Britain's colonial past.

In this vivid new biography, Richard Middleton shows that this portrait is far from accurate. Cornwallis emerges as a reformer who had deep empathy for those under his authority, and was clear about his obligation to govern justly. He sought to protect the population of Bengal with a constitution of written laws, insisted on Catholic emancipation in Ireland, and recognized the limitations of British power after the American war. Middleton reveals how Cornwallis's rewarding of merit, search for economy, and elimination of corruption helped improve the machinery of British government into the nineteenth century.

About Richard Middleton

Richard Middleton is an independent scholar and was formerly associate professor of American history at Queen's University Belfast. He is the author of The Bells of Victory, Colonial America, Pontiac's War, and The War of American Independence.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Joe on June 06, 2022

I confess that I read only the chapters about Cornwallis's role during the Revolutionary War. It was rather basic -- outfoxed at Trenton, hemmed in at Yorktown and the rocky relationship with General Clinton. Nothing new. It did not inspire me to read on.......more

Goodreads review by Julie on July 15, 2023

I learned so much from this book. I like the way the author set it up and divided Cornwallis life into the 3 significant parts of his career. I wish there had been more about Cornwallis’ early life but it sounded like there aren’t a lot of sources on it. Also I think Cornwallis would have preferred......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on May 14, 2022

This is an amazing detailed view into a man few Americans know much about. Even by todays standards he looks like a fair and honest leader doing his best to implement the policies of his nation. Really an impressive work on an impressive man.......more

Goodreads review by Dave on August 06, 2022

What an eventful life in the braces of service. The author stays out of the way of the story, it has a life of it's own and there is so much to tell. Duty defines this man like few others.......more

Goodreads review by Philip on January 03, 2025

Initially picking up this book to read about the American Revolution I was pleasantly surprised to see what a varied and interesting career Cornwallis had. Indeed his time in India appears to be the most important part of his life, and my only wish for this book would have been for the author to exp......more