Which British general surrendered at Yorktown in 1781, a turning point of the American Revolution?

British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in 1781, a turning point of the American Revolution.

The Siege of Yorktown lasted from September 28 to October 19, 1781, in Virginia. George Washington led American forces alongside French troops commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau. French naval forces under the Comte de Grasse blocked British escape and reinforcement by sea.

Cornwallis’s army became trapped after the allied forces surrounded Yorktown. On October 17, the British requested terms, and the formal surrender ceremony occurred two days later. Cornwallis claimed illness and did not attend; Brigadier General Charles O’Hara represented him.

The victory did not legally end the war immediately, but it led to peace negotiations. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, formally recognizing American independence.