This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis article. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic. New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help. Assume good faith Be polite and avoid personal attacks Be welcoming to newcomers Seek dispute resolution if needed Article policies Neutral point of view No original research Verifiability

Find sources:  Google ( books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL

This   level-5 vital article is rated C-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects:

India: History / Politics Mid‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject India, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of India-related topics. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page.IndiaWikipedia:WikiProject IndiaTemplate:WikiProject IndiaIndia articles Mid This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale. This article is supported by the Indian history workgroup (assessed as Low-importance). This article is supported by the Indian politics workgroup (assessed as Low-importance). This article was nominated to be an Indian Collaboration of the month but failed to qualify. Biography: Military / Peerage and Baronetage / Politics and Government This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles This article is supported by the military biography work group (assessed as Mid-importance). This article is supported by WikiProject Peerage and Baronetage (assessed as Mid-importance). This article is supported by the politics and government work group (assessed as Mid-importance). Military history: Biography / British / European / Early Modern / American Revolution This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.Military historyWikipedia:WikiProject Military historyTemplate:WikiProject Military historymilitary history articles This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-class status: Referencing and citation: criterion not met Coverage and accuracy: criterion met Structure: criterion met Grammar and style: criterion met Supporting materials: criterion met Associated task forces: /  Military biography task force British military history task force European military history task force Early Modern warfare task force (c. 1500 – c. 1800) American Revolutionary War task force Ireland Mid‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject Ireland, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Ireland on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.IrelandWikipedia:WikiProject IrelandTemplate:WikiProject IrelandIreland articles Mid This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale. Bangladesh Low‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject Bangladesh, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Bangladesh on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.BangladeshWikipedia:WikiProject BangladeshTemplate:WikiProject BangladeshBangladesh articles Low This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale. WikiProject Bangladesh To-do list: history watch purge Add more images to Bangladesh Liberation War and related pages Clean up Climate change in Bangladesh, it needs a lot of work Clean up History of Bangladesh after independence, it needs NPOV Improve Bangladesh back to FA as it was demoted (see discussion) Improve Bengali language back to FA as it was demoted (see discussion) Improve Bengalis and related pages Take a look at the requested articles. Make a MRT line 3 article. Extend, add an infobox and a map of New Eskaton to New Eskaton. London Low‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject London, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of London on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.LondonWikipedia:WikiProject LondonTemplate:WikiProject LondonLondon-related articles Low This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale. British Empire Mid‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject British Empire, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of British Empire on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.British EmpireWikipedia:WikiProject British EmpireTemplate:WikiProject British EmpireBritish Empire articles Mid This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale. Colonialism ( inactive) This article is within the scope of WikiProject Colonialism, a project which is currently considered to be inactive.ColonialismWikipedia:WikiProject ColonialismTemplate:WikiProject Colonial EmpiresColonialism articles

Did Charles Cornwallis have brothers and sisters if so names.

Admiral William Cornwallis was his younger brother [1]. According to this and this, his siblings were: Elizabeth, Charlotte, Mary, James (b.1740), James (b.1742/3, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 4th Earl Cornwallis), and Sir William (the Admiral). - Eisnel 00:00, 25 October 2005 (UTC) reply

Should Lord Cornwallis redirect to Baron Cornwallis? Personally, I do realize (and completely understand) that most Americans do not know of Mr. Cornwallis as anyone but "Lord Cornwallis", but following the naming conventions, would it not be more fair and consistent if we redirected correctly? (another example would be Duke of Wellington, although that arguably isn't the same type of case, as it's not a redirect but a page on its own). ugen64 03:49, Sep 21, 2004 (UTC)

Also, "Cornwallis" redirects here, and there's no disambiguation that would point readers to the Baron Cornwallis article or to his younger brother, Admiral William Cornwallis (a well known figure during the Napoleonic Wars). It could use some sort of disambig. It could be in italics at the top and redirect to Cornwallis (disambiguation)? Or would it be better off linking to a family page? The "Baron Cornwallis" article isn't all-encompassing, because Admiral Cornwallis never held such a title. - Eisnel 00:00, 25 October 2005 (UTC) reply

Agreed, Lord Cornwallis should redirect to this page, it's by far the most notable "Lord Cornwallis" in history. Rockfall 19:37, 17 February 2007 (UTC) reply

any idea what Lord Cornwallis' miitary rank was at the time of the American war ? Xerex 15:16, 6 February 2006 (UTC) reply

He was a Major-General in 1775, and was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1778. john k 07:39, 26 February 2006 (UTC) reply

I have deleted two lines -one in in the Revolution sup para - a reference to Lord Cornwalis being educated at Eton and Cambridge, which made no sense in a middle of a description of a battle, and another unfinished sentense elsewhere. Pl. amend main text accordingly.

Third paragraph of the American Revolution section is a little confusing.

There is a line "Cornwallis also created a police force and an incorruptible civil service; previously corruption was widespread in Bengal" in there that just begs for a reference. It would be a service to all to have a guide as to how to eliminate corruption from the civil service of any country if in fact the statement is correct.

This article could do with work on Cornwallis' work in India and Ireland - both of which were extremely important in each country's development. I'm working on the American Revolution section, but lack the knowledge to do the others. Rockfall 12:52, 17 February 2007 (UTC) reply

It seems to me that the opening to this page is EXTREMELY long. I was going to do the edits, but I'm not exactly conversant on the history and (being an American, and therefore biased) would probably exaggerate his contribution to the American Revolution over his offices in India and Ireland. NizzyWizzy 02:26, 20 March 2007 (UTC) reply

A lot of the opening was pasted straight from http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/CORN.HTM, so I deleted it. Dreamyshade 23:46, 31 March 2007 (UTC) reply

There was another whole section pasted from http://www.patriotresource.com/people/cornwallis/summary.html. Also deleted. Dreamyshade 23:50, 31 March 2007 (UTC) reply

I think that because plagiarized stuff was deleted, the article is very deficient. Also, I'm guessing the year 1722 in the article is wrong, seeing as he had not yet been born. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.178.187.222 ( talk) 06:52, 14 April 2007 (UTC). reply

I edited the information on Cornwallis regarding his earlier career. My edit is still somewhat incomplete, but the previous set was totally mixed up. (It was written as if the Battle of Minden had happened in 1765.) The biggest problem with the article is that it currently omits his participation in the American revolution! It's great that the plagarized material was removed, but something needs to be put in its place.-- Wtfiv 04:24, 15 June 2007 (UTC) reply

I am reading a book on the revolution which states that when he went home part way through the war it was because his wife was sick and that she died while he was on leave..apparently it devastated him and he came back to America out of grief..that he just wanted to get out of England at that point..I don`t have the source in front of me but I think more of his personal life should be included in the article..he seems to have been a relatively decent person in a culture of very ambitious unethical individuals. Lonepilgrim007 ( talk) 19:52, 30 September 2013 (UTC) reply

Since it was entirely missing, I've added an new section on Cornwallis's role in the American Revolutionary War. I focused more on the early part of the war (1776-1778) since Cornwallis's role during that time is less known and there are no other articles that put his role into a narrative unity. Because I don't want to duplicate other work that has been done better, I refer the discussion of Cornwallis's role in the Southern campaign to the article on the Southern Campaign, which also functions as a narrative of Cornwallis's role as an independent commander. Though I tried to avoid controversial material, the section could be strengthened by the addition of references.-- Wtfiv 23:22, 15 June 2007 (UTC) reply

"This could be compared to the wider recognition and status enjoyed by commanders like James Wolfe, who captured Quebec from the French in 1759, and the Duke of Wellington who led the British Armies during the Peninsular War (1808-15). In both these wars the British were victorious."

This seems to be a bit POV. Unless someone has a source for this POV, I suggest it be removed. James Richardson 20:31, 19 August 2007 (UTC) reply

Definitely agree. And the line, "This is fairly consistent with the lack of knowledge of Britons to the events of the American Revolution" is also ridiculous. I would say that Cornwallis is the second most famous commander of the revolution, after Washington, at least here in the UK. The entire legacy section should be revised. CTwells 13:18, 2 September 2007 (UTC) reply

I've removed "This could be compared...". Regarding "This is fairly consistent...", again, it's a POV, so strictly-speaking has no place in Wikipedia. James Richardson 20:10, 18 September 2007 (UTC) reply

Apart from of course Yorktown (which was a siege), im pretty sure Cornwallis never lost an open battle in the Revolution. Should this be mentioned in the article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.175.173.70 ( talk) 01:41, 12 January 2011 (UTC) reply

In September 2013 tags were added to this article recording that sections relating to the later career of Cornwallis had been (i) nominated to be checked for neutrality; and (ii) were of questionable neutrality. In both cases reference was made to discussions on the talk page. I can find no trace of any such discussions. Could the editor responsible please flag the points of concern so that these can be looked at. If this is not done then the tags should be removed. Buistr ( talk) 05:51, 6 April 2014 (UTC) reply

Six months have elapsed since the tags were placed. The comments on the tag are standard for the template, which should not have been placed without a discussion being started.. I have checked the originating editors contributions.There was no discussion initiated on the talk page. The tags were placed by a new editor who created an account, seemingly just to place the tags and make what is arguably an unsigned, biased personal opinion, on the Cornwallis in India article talk page, along with further tags to that article. No editors have replied to him. The tags had been left to afford time for any discussion. That article has been given a WP:GA status, which it would not have if there was any Non Neutral POV issues. Accordingly I have femoved the tags from both article, which are neutral and referenced. Richard Harvey ( talk) 08:47, 6 April 2014 (UTC) reply

I suspect the tags were placed by someone objecting to the use of the word "reform". The "reforms" of Cornwallis were reforms of the corporate operations, with real-world consequences to the inhabitants of Bengal and other parts of British India. Those consequences are not adequately covered here, and I've not seen sources (generally Indian, I think) that go into this in enough detail to properly contextualize them, especially in terms of Cornwallis' goals and understanding of the effects. Indian anti-colonialists see the word "reform" in this context and seem to frequently misunderstand its application, which leads to this sort of drive-by POV accusation. Magic ♪piano 14:12, 6 April 2014 (UTC) reply

I believe the contributor who wrote that General Cornwallis's mother Elizabeth Townshend was the niece of Robert Walpole, making the general his great nephew, is mistaken. Elizabeth Townshend was the daughter of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend of Raynham by his first wife, Elizabeth Pelham, daughter of Baron Pelham. It was Viscount Townshend's second wife, Dorothy Walpole who was the link to Robert Walpole; she was his sister. The general is not directly connected to the Walpole family. ^{[1] [2]} Ethelred360 ( talk) 15:12, 23 April 2016 (UTC) reply

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 2 external links on Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030302/http://www.dwr.org.uk/dwr.php?id=308 to http://www.dwr.org.uk/dwr.php?id=308
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20100629020108/http://illwa.org:80/chapter_2.htm to http://www.illwa.org/chapter_2.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at {{ Sourcecheck}}).

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{ source check}} (last update: 18 January 2022).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot ( Report bug) 22:42, 19 November 2016 (UTC) reply

In the section subtitled Return to Britain, there is a typo in the last sentence of the second paragraph it currently reads Cornwallis retained the confidence of King George III and the government of the earl of Shelburne.... The Earl of Shelburne is a substantive and proper title, so it should be written as the Earl of Shelburne with a capital E for Earl. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 42.2.78.197 ( talk) 06:02, 2 February 2018 (UTC) reply

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

At the bottom of the page, where it lists Cornwallis's office and distinctions. It lists Lord of the Bedchamber as one of them, and it does not state when his tenure ended. It was that same year, he served in the position from 1765-1765. Please could this be changed to reflect that. This can be evidenced by his tenure being listed in the Gentleman of the bedchamber article. DukeLondon ( talk) 21:57, 20 March 2021 (UTC) reply

It also states that Cornwallis was not replaced as Lord of the Bedchamber whilst this was true initially, he was replayed by two years later in 1767 by John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe this can be evidenced by viewing the Gentleman of the Bedchamber article. Perhaps, this could be indicated that he was replaced two years in later in 1767 by the Duke of Roxburghe (as mentioned above). DukeLondon ( talk) 08:31, 21 March 2021 (UTC) reply

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. NightWolf1223 ( talk) 14:38, 23 March 2021 (UTC) reply

Note: there is no source for Cornwallis at Gentleman of the Bedchamber. In fact, there is no source whatsoever for any individual there. But there is a general source for King George III and his entry appears on page 427 of this book Martinevans123 ( talk) 14:44, 23 March 2021 (UTC) reply

@ Martinevans123: Thank you for finding a source for that, which supports the claim that his tenure ended in 1765, as he resigned due to his appointment as aide-de-camp. Thanks very much for that. DukeLondon ( talk) 18:22, 23 March 2021 (UTC) reply

 Done I've added the year, together with the source. But I notice that nothing else in that box has a source, which makes me wonder if one is needed. Martinevans123 ( talk) 18:38, 23 March 2021 (UTC) reply

Cornwallis did not vote against the Stamp Act in 1765. It was the Declaratory Act that he and other four peers opposed. There are a number of other amendments that ought to be made in the light of my recent biography, Cornwallis: Soldier and Statesman in a Revolutionary World (Yale University Press, 2022) -§Richard Middleton — Preceding unsigned comment added by Richard Middleton ( talk • contribs) 16:13, 11 January 2024 (UTC) reply