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 William Howe
gained distinction during the campaign against
Quebec in 1759, during the Seven Years' War. Sent
back to America in 1775, he actively
led a column against Americans entrenched on
Breed's Hill. As commander of all British forces
in America he won battles at Long Island, White
Plains and Brandywine before resigning. |
 Queen Victoria
ruled for 63 years, from 1837 to
1901, the longest reign of any British monarch.
During her reign, Great Britain reached the
height of its power. The Victorian Age featured
great industrial expansion at home and imperial
expansion abroad. |
 William Pitt
served as Secretary of State from 1756 to 1761, and it was in this capacity that he made
his biggest impact on British history. His
policies led to French defeats in North America,
the West Indies, India, Europe, West Africa, and
on the seas, and the British Empire reached its
greatest extent ever. |
 John
Burgoyne served with distinction
during the Seven Years' War, and subsequently won
a commission to invade New York during the
American Revolutionary War. He was forced to
surrender his army to Continental forces on
October 17, 1777. |
 Sir Francis
Drake commanded the first English
expedition to sail around the world, between
December 13, 1577 and September 26, 1580. He did
so, however, more by circumstance than by design,
due to his raiding of Spanish settlements during
the first leg of the voyage. |
 John
became king upon the death of Richard I in 1199,
and reigned until his own death in 1216. An inept
and very unpopular king, he fought a losing
battle against English lords and was forced to
sign the Magna Carta in 1215. That document
severely limited the king's authority, and became
the foundation of the system that governs England
today. |
 Edmund Burke
reluctantly entered politics as a member of
Parliament in 1765, but soon became one of the
leading figures in the House of Commons. Always
ready to speak his mind concerning the major
issues of the day, he is today most remembered
for his volumes of writings, including Reflections
on the Revolution in France. |
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