Charles Cornwallis was the British commander who surrendered at Yorktown in 1781.
Cornwallis commanded the British army trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, during the final major campaign of the American Revolutionary War. American forces under George Washington coordinated with French troops commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau, while a French fleet blocked British naval relief.
After weeks of siege operations, Cornwallis surrendered his army on October 19, 1781. The defeat shocked Britain and weakened political support for continuing the war, although fighting and negotiations continued afterward.
Cornwallis did not personally attend the surrender ceremony, reportedly citing illness. Brigadier General Charles O’Hara represented him and presented the sword to the allied commanders. The 1783 Treaty of Paris formally ended the war and recognized the independence of the United States.