MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES FAMOUS FREEMASONS

Charles Cornwallis Detail of oil portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, National Portrait Gallery, London. December 31, 1738 - October 5, 1805 Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, Viscount Brome, Baron Cornwallis of Eye, had a long and distinguished career as a soldier and officer of the Crown. Although Earl Cornwallis sided with the American colonists on all the major issues of the day from his seat in the House of Lords, during the American Revolution Major General (later Lieutenant General) Cornwallis led British forces in the Colonies from January 1, 1776 until he surrendered his command after the siege at Yorktown on October 19,1781. As Commander-in-Chief (Governor General) in India from 12 September, 1786 to 28 October, 1793 he established the permanent settlement and administrative and judicial systems of the East India Company government in Bengal. As viceroy of Ireland from June 13, 1798 to March 17, 1801 he worked to eliminate corruption among British officials and resigned over the king’s refusal to grant Roman Catholic emancipation. He was re-appointed governor-general of India on March 20, 1805 but died shortly after his arrival. Freemason Source: 10,000 Famous Freemasons p. 251: "He performed the grand honors of Masonry at the funeral of Major General DeKalb..." Also see Edward Cornwallis.

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