Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleGeorge Washington’s signature on a document to General Charles Cornwallis (PA)A letter signed by George Washington, accepting the British surrender that effectively ended the American Revolutionary War, is being exhibited in London for the first time. Written in October 1781 following the British defeat at Yorktown, Virginia, the document initiated negotiations for the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which saw Britain formally recognise US independence. The letter is a central exhibit in “Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763–1783” at The National Archives in Kew, which traces the birth of the United States through documents from both sides of the Atlantic. Dr Sean Cunningham, the exhibition's curator, emphasised the letter's tremendous consequences, marking the moment Britain accepted the loss of its 13 American colonies. Separately, the US State Department is preparing a limited release of commemorative passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a picture of President Donald Trump, available initially only on request at the Washington, D.C., passport office. In fullGeorge Washington note accepting British surrender to go on display in LondonThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
George Washington letter sealing Britain’s defeat in America on show in London
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleGeorge Washington’s signature on a document to General Charles Cornwallis (PA)A letter signed by George Washington, accepting the British surrender that effectively ended the American Revolutionary War, is being exhibited in London for the first time. Written in October 1781 following the British defeat at Yorktown, Virginia, the document initiated negotiations for the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which saw Britain formally recognise US independence. The letter is a central exhibit in “Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763–1783” at The National Archives in Kew, which traces the birth of the United States through documents from both sides of the Atlantic. Dr Sean Cunningham, the exhibition's curator, emphasised the letter's tremendous consequences, marking the moment Britain accepted the loss of its 13 American colonies. Separately, the US State Department is preparing a limited release of commemorative passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a picture of President Donald Trump, available initially only on request at the Washington, D.C., passport office. In fullGeorge Washington note accepting British surrender to go on display in LondonThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
