The British army surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, during the last major land engagement of America250’s Revolutionary era.
The Siege of Yorktown took place in Virginia from September 28 to October 19, 1781. American and French forces commanded by George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau surrounded British troops led by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis.
French naval support was crucial. The fleet commanded by the Comte de Grasse blocked the Chesapeake Bay after defeating a British relief fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake. This prevented Cornwallis from escaping or receiving effective reinforcement by sea.
The surrender ceremony followed two days of negotiations. Cornwallis did not attend the ceremony, reportedly citing illness, so Charles O’Hara represented him. The victory led to peace negotiations, but it did not instantly end every military operation. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, formally ended the war and recognized American independence.