John Burgoyne was a British general, as well as a popular playwright. As a soldier, he took part in the Seven Years’ War as well as the American Revolution. Burgoyne fought in several Canadian battles during the Revolutionary War, and he led an ultimately ill-fated excursion to cut off the New England colonies from the southern colonies. The excursion resulted in Burgoyne surrendering, bringing him back to England in dishonor. Burgoyne saw success as a dramatist, having written several plays, the most notable of which were The Maid of the Oaks (1774) and The Heiress (1786).