Major General Banastre Tarleton (1754–1833) was a British Army officer and politician, best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War. Born on August 21, 1754, in Liverpool, England, Tarleton came from a prominent merchant family and pursued a military career, joining the British Army in 1775.
Tarleton gained notoriety for his aggressive tactics as a cavalry commander, particularly during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. He led the British Legion, a mixed force of cavalry and infantry, and participated in key battles such as the Siege of Charleston (1780) and the Battle of Camden (1780). However, he is most infamous for the Battle of Waxhaws, where his troops were accused of killing surrendering American soldiers, an event that became known as the "Waxhaws Massacre."
Tarleton's defeat at the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781 marked a turning point in the Southern Campaign, contributing to the eventual British surrender at Yorktown later that year. After the war, Tarleton returned to Britain, where he served as a Member of Parliament for Liverpool and pursued a political career. He was knighted and became a baronet in recognition of his service.
