Editing John Burgoyne (section)

==Early life==

===Family and education===
John Burgoyne was born in [[Sutton, Bedfordshire|Sutton]], [[Bedfordshire]] on 24 February 1722, son of Army officer Captain John Burgoyne (died 1768; son of [[Burgoyne baronets|Sir John Burgoyne, 3rd Baronet]]), of [[Sherbourne, Warwickshire]],<ref>Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 28th edition, Sir Bernard Burke, Harrison & Sons, 1866, p. 154</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/burgoyne-john-1723-92|title=Burgoyne, John (1723–92), of Hertford Street, Mayfair, Mdx. &#124; History of Parliament Online|website=www.historyofparliamentonline.org}}</ref> and Anna Maria, daughter of Charles Burneston, a wealthy [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]] merchant.{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|pp=3–4}}<ref>London marriage licences 1521–1869, ed. Joseph Foster, Bernard Quaritch (Piccadilly), 1887, p. 219</ref> There were rumours that Burgoyne was in fact the [[illegitimate]] son of [[Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley|Lord Bingley]], who was his [[Godparent|godfather]]. When Bingley died in 1731, his will specified that Burgoyne was to inherit his estate if his daughters had no male issue.{{sfnp|Billias|1969|p=145}}

From the age of 10, Burgoyne attended the prestigious [[Westminster School]], as did many British army officers of the time such as [[Thomas Gage]], with whom Burgoyne would later serve.{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|p=4}} Burgoyne was athletic and outgoing and enjoyed life at the school where he made numerous important friends, in particular [[Lord James Strange]].{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|pp=4–5}} In August 1737, Burgoyne [[Purchase System|purchased a commission]] in the [[Horse Guards Regiment|Horse Guards]], a fashionable cavalry regiment. They were stationed in London and his duties were light, allowing him to cut a figure in [[High society (group)|high society]]. He soon acquired the nickname "Gentleman Johnny" and became well known for his stylish uniforms and general high living which saw him run up large debts. In 1741 Burgoyne sold his commission, possibly to settle gambling debts.

The outbreak of the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] led to an expansion in the size of the [[British Army]]. In April 1745, Burgoyne joined the newly raised [[1st Royal Dragoons]] as a [[Cornet (military rank)|cornet]], a commission he did not have to pay for as it was newly created.{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|p=6}} In April 1745, he was promoted to lieutenant. In 1747, Burgoyne managed to scrape the money together to purchase a [[Captain (land)|captaincy]]. The end of the war in 1748 cut off any prospect of further active service.

===Elopement===
[[File:John Burgoyne, 1758, (after Allan Ramsay).jpg|thumb|John Burgoyne, 1758, (after Allan Ramsay)]]
Through his friendship with Lord Strange, Burgoyne came to know Strange's sister, Lady Charlotte Stanley, the daughter of [[Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby|Lord Derby]], one of Britain's leading politicians. After Derby refused permission for Burgoyne to marry Charlotte, they [[elope]]d together and married without his permission in April 1751.{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|pp=6–7}} An outraged Derby cut his daughter off without a penny. Unable to support his wife otherwise, Burgoyne again sold his commission, raising £2,600, which they lived off for the next few years.

In October 1751, Burgoyne and his new wife went to live in [[continental Europe]] travelling through France and Italy. While in France, Burgoyne met and befriended the [[Étienne François, duc de Choiseul|Duc de Choiseul]] who would later become the [[Foreign Minister of France|Foreign Minister]] and directed [[France in the Seven Years War|French policy during the Seven Years War]]. While in Rome, Burgoyne had his [[portrait]] painted by the British artist [[Allan Ramsay (artist)|Allan Ramsay]].{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|p=7}} In late 1754, Burgoyne's wife gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, who was to prove to be the couple's only child. In the hope that a granddaughter would soften Derby's opposition to their marriage, the Burgoynes returned to Britain in 1755. Lord Strange interceded on their behalf with Derby, who soon changed his mind and accepted them back into the family. Burgoyne soon became a favourite of Derby, who used his influence to boost Burgoyne's prospects.{{sfnp|Mintz|1990|p=7}}