WI : Georges III refused Burgoyne’s plan during the American Revolutionary War

Burgoyne’s proposal was that the British conquer New York City and then send one army north from their new base to link up at Albany with another sent south from Canada. He fought for his idea not by convincing other generals but by visiting King George III and mentioning, in the true spirit of the courtier, that he was distressed as to how the monarch apparently had little time for exercise and was putting on weight. The king agreed to go riding with Burgoyne, and as they cantered for the next two weeks on the bridle paths, “Gentleman Johnny” was able to make George III believe that the campaign would isolate New England and show the rebels who was boss.

It led to the fateful battle of Saratoga that sent Gentleman Johnny home and brought in the French.

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Source:

Olasky, Marvin. “Vice, Virtue, and the Battlefield.” Fighting for Liberty and Virtue: Political and Cultural Wars in Eighteenth-Century America. Crossway Books, 1995. 158. Print.

Original Source Listed:

Lewis, 97-102.


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Further Reading:

General John Burgoyne

George III of the United Kingdom (George William Frederick)

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POD :

What if King Georges III didn’t appreciate to be called "fat" and refused Burgoyne’s plan?

- Would he agree to Howe‘s plan and focus on the capture of Philadelphia?
- How would the continentals react in this case?
 
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From what I understood, Burgoyne made his main appeal to Lord Germain, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, who already resented Guy Carleton and was amenable to a different approach from Guy's more cautious one. I don't know much about this meeting between Burgoyne and George, but I'm guessing it took place in November 1776, when the former met with Germain as well. But his written request for command of an expedition came at the end of February 1777, so even if his meeting with George went south, Burgoyne could, and probably still would, have made his request to Germain. I never got the impression that George was one to micromanage campaign strategy, so unless Burgoyne really messed up and earned a lasting grudge, I imagine he'd still have a chance of getting his command.
 
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