Banastre Tarleton

Sir Banastre Tarleton Bt GCB
Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in the uniform of the British Legion, wearing a "Tarleton helmet". National Gallery, London.
Born	21 August 1754 (1754-08-21) Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died	15 January 1833(1833-01-15) (aged 78) Leintwardine, Herefordshire, England
Allegiance	Great Britain (1775-1801) United Kingdom (1801-1812)
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1775–1812
Rank	General
Unit	1st Dragoon Guards
Commands held	British Legion
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Siege of Charleston Battle of Monck's Corner Battle of Lenud's Ferry Battle of Waxhaws Battle of Fishing Creek Battle of Camden Battle of Blackstock's Farm Battle of Cowpens Battle of Cowan's Ford Battle of Torrence's Tavern Battle of Wetzell's Mill Battle of Guilford Courthouse Battle of Green Spring Siege of Yorktown
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Baronet
Spouse(s)	Susan Bertie ​ (m. 1798)​
Relations	Mary Robinson

Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet GCB (21 August 1754 – 15 January 1833) was a British general and politician. He is best known as the lieutenant colonel leading the British Legion at the end of the American Revolutionary War. He later served in Portugal and held commands in Ireland and England.

During most of his service in North America, he led the British Legion, a provincial unit organised in New York in 1778. After returning to Great Britain in 1781 at the age of 27, Tarleton was elected to Parliament as a member for Liverpool. He served as a prominent Whig politician for 20 years.^[1] He was interested in military matters and opposed abolition of the slave trade.