During the American Revolution, a British Lieutenant General has a great idea for a campaign. He convinces King George III to adopt his plan by… calling him fat. Literally, that’s what he did.

>[Burgoyne](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/BurgoyneByReynolds.jpg)’s proposal was that the British conquer New York City and then send one army north from their new base to link up at Albany with another sent south from Canada. He fought for his idea not by convincing other generals but by visiting [King George III](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Allan_Ramsay_-_King_George_III_in_coronation_robes_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) and mentioning, in the true spirit of the courtier, that he was distressed as to how the monarch apparently had little time for exercise and was putting on weight. The king agreed to go riding with Burgoyne, and as they cantered for the next two weeks on the bridle paths, “Gentleman Johnny” was able to make George III believe that the campaign would isolate New England and show the rebels who was boss. _________________________ **Source:** Olasky, Marvin. “Vice, Virtue, and the Battlefield.” *Fighting for Liberty and Virtue: Political and Cultural Wars in Eighteenth-Century America*. Crossway Books, 1995. 158. Print. **Original Source Listed:** Lewis, 97-102. _________________________ **Further Reading:** [General John Burgoyne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Burgoyne) [George III of the United Kingdom (George William Frederick)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdom) ___________________________ **If you enjoy this type of content, please consider donating to my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/HistoryLockeBox)!**