British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
The siege took place from September 28 to October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia. American forces commanded by George Washington joined French troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau, while French naval forces helped prevent British relief by sea.
Cornwallis surrendered his army on October 19. The Yorktown victory did not instantly end every military operation, but it destroyed Britain’s ability to wage a major offensive campaign in North America and led to peace negotiations.
The surrender is often called the Battle of Yorktown, but “Siege of Yorktown” is the specific name for the surrounding military operation. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, formally ended the war and recognized American independence.