John Fox Burgoyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Burgoyne, Bt
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Lieutenant General Sir John Fox Burgoyne, GCB, photo by Roger Fenton, 1855
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| Born | 24 July 1782 |
| Died | 7 October 1871 (aged 89) Kensington, London |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1798–1868 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Peninsular War War of 1812 Crimean War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne (born 24 July 1782 – died 7 October 1871) was a very important officer in the British Army. He was known for his skills as an engineer. He helped the army in many big wars.
Burgoyne fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Peninsular War. He worked with famous generals like Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington. He was also the chief engineer during the War of 1812 in America. Later, he gave advice during the Crimean War. He suggested important strategies, like where to land troops and how to attack the city of Sevastopol.
Contents
Early Life and Start in the Army
John Burgoyne was born in 1782. His father was General John Burgoyne. Young John was raised by the 12th Earl of Derby after his father passed away. He went to Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. These were top schools for future officers.
On 29 August 1798, John joined the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant. This was the start of his long military career. He became a lieutenant on 1 July 1800. Soon after, he helped in the Siege of Malta during the French Revolutionary Wars. He then worked as an assistant to General Henry Edward Fox. By 1805, he was a second captain. He took part in the capture of Alexandria in Egypt in 1807.
Fighting in the Peninsular War
In April 1808, Burgoyne became the main engineer for Sir John Moore's army. He traveled with the army to Sweden and then to Portugal. He was part of the difficult retreat from Corunna in January 1809. During this retreat, he blew up bridges to slow down the enemy.
Burgoyne returned to Portugal in April 1809. He joined Sir Arthur Wellesley's army. He became a captain in July 1809. He served as an engineer officer for the 3rd Division. In this role, he fought in many important battles:
- The Battle of Bussaco in September 1810.
- The Second Siege of Badajoz in June 1811.
- The Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812.
He was promoted to major in February 1812. He led the attack groups at the Siege of Badajoz in March 1812. This was a very brave and dangerous job. He became a lieutenant colonel in April 1812. He continued to fight in major battles:
- The Battle of Salamanca in July 1812.
- The Siege of Burgos in September 1812.
- The Battle of Vitoria in June 1813.
He was also present at the Siege of San Sebastián in August 1813. He fought in the Battle of Nivelle and the Battle of the Nive in late 1813. In 1814, he helped the army cross the River Adour. He also fought in the Battle of Bayonne. For his brave service, he received the Order of the Bath in 1814.
Service in America and Ireland
After the Peninsular War, Burgoyne went to the United States. He served as the chief engineer under General Edward Pakenham. He fought in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. He also took part in the Second Battle of Fort Bowyer.
After these wars, he worked as the chief engineer for the army in France until 1821. Then, he became the commanding engineer at the Royal Engineers Depot, Chatham. In 1826, he went to Portugal to support their government. He became a garrison engineer at Portsmouth in 1828. In 1830, he was promoted to colonel. He then became the chairman of the Board of Public Works in Ireland.
Later Career and the Crimean War
Burgoyne continued to rise through the ranks. He became a colonel in 1837 and a major-general in 1838. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. In 1845, he became the Inspector-General of Fortifications. In this role, he gave advice on building defenses. He also helped with relief efforts during the Great Famine in Ireland. In 1848, he advised on defenses in Gibraltar. He suggested pointing the guns at the Devil's Tongue Battery towards Gibraltar Harbour. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1851. In 1852, he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
Before the Crimean War started, Burgoyne went to Constantinople. He helped strengthen its defenses and those of the Dardanelles. He was an important advisor to Lord Raglan. Burgoyne suggested that the allied forces land at the Bay of Kalamita. He also recommended attacking Sevastopol from the south side. This meant a long siege instead of a quick attack. This decision led to the allied forces spending a difficult winter in the field in 1854.
Burgoyne became a colonel commandant of the Royal Engineers in 1854. He was called back to England in February 1855. He was promoted to full general in September 1855. In 1856, he was given the title of baronet. He also received the French Legion of Honour. He was an honorary colonel for several engineer volunteer groups.
Retirement and Legacy
In April 1865, Burgoyne was appointed Constable of the Tower. This was a very old and important position. He retired on 1 January 1868 and was promoted to field marshal. Sir John Fox Burgoyne passed away in Kensington, London, on 7 October 1871, at the age of 89. He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London. A fort in Dover, Castle Hill Fort, was renamed Fort Burgoyne in his honor.
Family Life
In 1821, John Burgoyne married Charlotte Rose. They had one son, Hugh Talbot Burgoyne, who became a brave Captain in the Royal Navy and won the Victoria Cross. They also had seven daughters. One of their grandchildren was the famous preacher, Charles Spurgeon.
Images for kids
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Siege of Sevastopol by Franz Roubaud
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Statue in Waterloo Place, London
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Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London
