Editing John Burgoyne (section)

===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.