NOV
14
SNHP Fall Series: From the Battlefield to the Stage, the Many Lives of General John Burgoyne
November 14, 2024
Burgoyne is chiefly known to history for surrendering his army to the American forces at Saratoga in 1777, an event that turned out to be a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Both on and off the battlefield, Burgoyne led an action-packed life. The author explores his varied life in theater, politics, gambling, and more.
Event Details
- Reservations required by emailing sara_reservations@nps.gov
- Start Time:
6:30 pm
- Speaker:
Norman S. Poser, “From the Battlefield to the Stage: The Many Lives of General John Burgoyne”
Additional Information
From the Battlefield to the Stage: The Many Lives of General John Burgoyne
Norman S. Poser speaks on his recently published book, From the Battlefield to the Stage: The Many Lives of General John Burgoyne. Burgoyne is chiefly known to history for surrendering his army to the American forces at Saratoga in 1777, an event that turned out to be a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
Both on and off the battlefield, Burgoyne led an action-packed life: as a young man, he eloped with the daughter of an English earl; a devotee of the theatre, he wrote plays that were successfully produced on the London stage; a Member of Parliament for thirty years, he fought corruption in India and advocated for religious toleration; he was welcome in London’s elite gambling clubs and fashionable drawing rooms. Norman S. Poser, a retired law professor, is also the author of two other non-fiction books about eighteenth-century England.
Reservations are required by emailing sara_reservations@nps.gov. Please include the date of the program you wish to attend. The Fall Lecture Series is presented with support from the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOV 7
Revolutionary Run for Veterans at Fort Hardy Park
Saratoga250 will have a presence at the Saratoga County Revolutionary Run for Veterans, a 5k run at Fort Hardy Park which benefits Saratoga County Veterans.
OCT 9-10
Celebrating the 250th: Battles of Saratoga @250 Reenactments
Watch history come alive at the 250th Battles of Saratoga Reenactment. Two days of live muskets and maneuvers, October 9–10, 2027 in Saratoga, NY.
OCT 17
Celebrating the 250th: Turning Point Parade 2027
Join the Turning Point Parade marking 250 years since the Surrender at Saratoga. October 17, 2027, 10am in Schuylerville, NY.
OCT 29
Fall Lecture Series: Illuminating Lives: The Stories of Several Women During the American War for Independence
Using a variety of archival sources and research techniques, Saratoga National Historical Park Curator Christine Valosin will talk about six different women with ties to the Schuyler family or estate, illuminating little known stories of their lives during the turbulent years of the American War for Independence.
NOV 5
Fall Lecture Series: When the Declaration of Independence Was News
Published for the 250th anniversary of the United States, When the Declaration of Independence Was News focuses on the nation’s founding document at the moment of its creation in 1776, before anyone knew what the legacy of the Declaration would be or if the United States would win the war against Great Britain.
NOV 12
Fall Lecture Series: Did the Battle of Redbank bring France into the War of Independence?
Americans generally assume that the surrender of Sir John Burgoyne to General Horatio Gates at Saratoga on 17 October 1777 caused France to openly enter the American War of Independence. The American leadership interpreted the defeat at Saratoga within their military and political needs. Saratoga was of great military importance, an immense morale booster and extensively used for propaganda purposes. But France’s decision to join the American rebels came after years of preparation and was by no means monocausal.
NOV 19
Fall Lecture Series: They Were Good Soldiers: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army
The role of African Americans, free and enslaved, in the regiments of the Continental Army is not well-known; neither is the fact that relatively large numbers served in southern regiments and that the greatest number served alongside their white comrades in integrated units. John Rees will discuss black soldiers’ acceptance, service, and experiences during and after the War for American Independence, focusing on those who served in Continental regiments. African American women with the army will also be featured.
Keep America’s Turning Point Alive 
Keep America’s Turning Point alive for generations to come by making a tax-deductible donation to the Campaign for Saratoga 250, Inc. Our certified 501c3 nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and preservation of critical assets of the Battles of Saratoga. Your support will help promote historical awareness of new generations of people across the region, nation, and globe.





