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| “ | These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly. | „ |
| ~ General Cornwallis describing Colonel William Tavington. |
| “ | Everything will change. Everything has changed. | „ |
| ~ General Cornwallis' last words in the film. |
General Charles Cornwallis is the overarching antagonist of the 2000 historical war film The Patriot. He is a leading General of the British Army in the American Revolution and the commanding officer of Colonel William Tavington.
He was portrayed by the late Tom Wilkinson, who also played Robert Beaumont in The Ghost and the Darkness, Thomas Griffin in Rush Hour, Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins, Lenny Cole in RocknRolla, Friedrich Fromm in Valkyrie, Thomas Pendrew in Sleeping Dogs and Latham Cole in The Lone Ranger.
Personality[]
While Cornwallis is not as violent and cruel as his right hand officer William Tavington, he is very arrogant, and often brags whenever he wins a battle. He can often be very condescending, especially in the way he talks about Colonel Tavington behind his back, calling him "inept", albeit he deserves it. He also has exceptional military expertise, training, and experience.
However, Cornwallis does have a more affable side. He was fairly sympathetic to the American cause before the war, and even referred to them as "our bretheren", ableit he has no respect for the militia, whatsoever. He also treated his fellow officers, except Tavington, with respect. He also regularly scolded Tavington for his brutal and extreme methods, showing he had reasonable standards for 'gentlemanship'. He believes the British should "fight like gentlemen". He also has two pet dogs that he deeply cares for, as he enjoys petting them and was saddened by their absence. He also enjoys to journal, and was infuriated when his memoirs were lost.
Biography[]
General Cornwallis is a high ranking British military official who leaded England in the invasion and overtaking of Charles Town, along with Tavington and General O'Hara. He leads England in the journey of putting down the American rebellion. They regularly win battles under his command, and Cornwalls is quite happy with this. However, he is annoyed with Tavington's premature charges, as he sees them as an "eagerness for glory".
When 'The Ghost, Benjamin Martin, commits a massacre of British soldiers, Cornwallis hears about this, and blames Tavington for it, as he thinks his brutal methods have provoked the colonists, and mostly 'The Ghost', into taking rather violent action against his armies. Later at a ball, after many militia victories & British losses, Cornwallis expresses his disappointment in Colonel Tavington's efforts. He is also angry on how Tavington has not been able to find them, calling "farmers with pitchforks".
Later, when Cornwallis' and Tavington's forces capture 18 men of the Continental Militia, Benjamin Martin negotiates a prisoner exchange with General Cornwallis, saying that he also has 18 of the general's men. During which, Benjamin expresses anger in how Cornwallis tells the former to restrain his men, even though the latter does not restrain his men, especially Tavington, from targeting civillians, including children. When it is revealed that the prisoners were just scarecrows dressed in Redcoat uniforms, Cornwallis is even more angered.
While Corwallis has dinner, he scolds Tavington again for his incompetence. He orders Tavington to find and capture Benjamin Martin. Tavington agrees to do so, under the condition that in doing so, he will have to use very brutal methods. He even offers to take the full blame for his actions, so Cornwallis will be blameless. After mulling it over, Cornwallis lets his anger cloud his judgement, and agrees with Tavington's proposal, being indirectly responsible for the rest of the atrocities in the film. Later, before the Battle of Cowpens, Cornwallis tells that he will not tolerate another premature charge from Tavington, and that the latter shall wait for his order.
Cornwallis is present during the Battle of Cowpens, and notices the militia forming at the American army lines' center. Soon after, despite his orders, Tavington leads another premature charge, despite Captain Wilkins reminding him that he has not been given that order. General Cornwallis sees this, and is angered by this. Soon after, when the British have begun charging against the retreating Americans, Cornwallis administers an infantry reserve to the center, despite having taken the field, saying "we shall take their spirits". He then sends the entire British battalion to crush the colonists as an effort to end the war once and for all. Seeing as that plan fails horribly, he tries desperately to drive them back, even dismissing his fellow General O Hara's ideas on how to fight them back. Finally, after Tavington's death, Cornwallis orders the sounding of the retreat, accepting defeat once and for all.
By 1781, General Cornwallis took his army and moved north to Yorktown, Virginia. However, they were surrounded by the French & Americans. Cornwallis expresses his shock of how the war has turned, and remarks how everything has changed. He & his army then finally surrender, hiding himself in shame.
Quotes[]
| “ | Fine soldier you are, bested by a bedtime story. | „ |
| ~ Cornwallis insulting Colonel Tavington. |
| “ | Colonel Tavington, why, after six weeks, am I still here at Middleton place attending a ball in South Carolina while I should be attending balls in NORTH CAROLINA? | „ |
| ~ Cornwallis blaming Colonel Tavington for the British army's slow takeover of the 13 colonies. |
| “ | These rustics are so inept. It nearly takes the honor out of victory. Nearly. | „ |
| ~ Cornwallis describing Colonel Tavington's methods. |
| “ | Tavington. Damn him! DAMN that man! | „ |
| ~ Cornwallis angered by Tavington's premature charge. |
| “ | O'Hara: Congratulations My Lord. Cornwallis: Infantry reserve into the center. O'Hara: But My Lord, you've taken the field. Cornwallis: Now we will take their spirits! Send the entire battalion over that hill and crush them! It ends today! |
„ |
| ~ Cornwallis attempting to end the entire war by any means necessary. |
| “ | Everything will change. Everything has changed. | „ |
| ~ Cornwallis accepting the end of the war. |
| “ | His Majesty, like history, judges us by the outcome of the war, and the manner in which it was fought. We serve the Crown, and we must conduct ourselves accordingly. Surrendering troops will be given quarter. These brutaI tactics must stop! | „ |
| “ | You serve me. And the manner in which you serve me reflects upon me!. I would've thought that a gentleman from a family as esteemed as yours would understand that. | „ |
Gallery[]
Images[]
Trivia[]
- Tom Wilkinson plays ultimately defeated British General Cornwallis. In John Adams, he played leading Revolutionary and United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
External Links[]
- Lord General Cornwallis on The Patriot Resource.