John Burgoyne (1722-1792) was a British General during the American Revolution. In the summer and fall of 1777 he led a large force down from Canada with the intention of cutting of New England from the rest of the American colonies. While he had originally intended to unite his forces with the larger British Army, General William Howe moved his forces south from New York City towards Philadelphia, leaving Burgoyne without reinforcements. Burgoyne was forced to surrender his troops after the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777, a major victory for the Continental Army.