Banastre Tarleton

About Banastre Tarleton

General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB (21 August 1754 – 16 January 1833) was a British soldier and politician.

He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. His reputation for his ruthless policy of taking no prisoners and his involvement in the Battle of Waxhaws earned him the nickname "Bloody Ban". The British soldiers and American loyalists hailed him as an outstanding leader of light cavalry and called him "The Green Dragoon", as his battle attire included a green jacket.

Banastre Tarleton was the fourth of seven children born to the merchant, ship owner and slave trader, John Tarleton of Liverpool (1719 – 1773), who was mayor of Liverpool (1768). Tarleton was educated at the Middle Temple, London and went up to University College, Oxford University where he matriculated in 1771, after which he entered the British Army.