General Burgoyne in America, 1775-77 Upon his arrival in Boston aboard the HMS Cerberus in May of 1775 with his colleagues Generals Howe and Clinton, British General John Burgoyne purposely showed himself to be different from your average British officer and leader. Besides being the junior ranking British General of the three new arrivals (Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne), General John Burgoyne party-going gambler and an amateur playwright who wrote colorful descriptions oand opinions of people and events of 1775. Burgoyne (1722 - 1792) is also the British commander who would end up surrendering the entire army under his command to American forces during the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.
Step back in time and get to know General Burgoyne and learn of the events of 1775 through his eyes with British-born actor Howard Burnham as he portrays one of the American Revolution's most colorful figures.
When: Sunday October 2, 2005. Performances at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30.
Where: Bunker Hill Monument
Sponsored by Boston National Historical Park.
BIOGRAPHY
Howard Burnham is an Englishman settled in South Carolina, where he has specialized in characters of the American Revolution. His first creation was Lord Cornwallis, a role he has played on BBC television. Others include 'Bloody Ban' Tarleton, the most hated British officer of the Revolution, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Amherst, and, to redress the balance, Patriots Tom Paine, Horatio Gates and Thomas 'Gamecock' Sumter. His characteriztion of the flamboyant General 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne that he is bringing to Bunker Hill Monument on Sunday, Oct 2 has played regularly at Saratoga National Battlefield for the past three years. His programs are noted for their accuracy and humor. Mr. Burnham was educated at University College in the University of Durham where he took honors in Modern History. In 1973 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.
