The tomb of Lord Charles Cornwallis at Ghazipur, a quiet town in eastern Uttar Pradesh near the Ganges, is one of the earliest British funerary monuments in India. Located about 70 km east of Varanasi, the mausoleum stands as a reminder of the British Empire’s formative years on the subcontinent. Cornwallis (1738–1805), a distinguished British administrator and military commander, served twice as Governor-General of India and left a deep imprint on the early colonial administration.
Above Image: Tomb of Charles Cornwallis, British Administrator and Military Commander; tomb, overlooking the Ganges, is a heavy dome supported on 12 Doric columns above a cenotaph carved by John Flaxman. Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Birth: 31 Dec 1738, England.Death and burial: 5 Oct 1805 (aged 66), Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India..........
Before coming to India, Cornwallis had played a major role in the American War of Independence, fighting in several key battles including Long Island (1776), Brandywine (1777), and Monmouth (1778). His eventual surrender at Yorktown in 1781, forced by the combined American–French forces, marked a turning point in world history. In India, however, Cornwallis rebuilt his reputation. His first tenure as Governor-General (1786–1793) is remembered for important administrative reforms, especially the Permanent Settlement of Bengal (1793) and the establishment of a Supreme Court of criminal judicature in Calcutta. He also reorganized the civil services, reducing corruption and strengthening revenue administration.
Cornwallis played a decisive role in the Third Mysore War (1790–92) against Tipu Sultan. His capture of Bangalore in 1791 strategically paved the way for British access to Srirangapatna, influencing later campaigns led by Arthur Wellesley. In 1805, facing political strain in India, the British government recalled Cornwallis for a second term to stabilize the administration. But age, stress, and the rigours of travel weakened him. During an inspection tour, he fell seriously ill and died at Ghazipur on 5 October 1805, where he was buried with full honours.
His mausoleum, designed in neoclassical style, features a large dome supported on twelve Doric columns, standing on a circular platform 3.66 m high and 18.3 m wide. A marble cenotaph by the renowned sculptor John Flaxman occupies the centre. The structure includes depictions of Europeans and Indians mourning, reflecting the high regard he enjoyed. The tomb is today maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and remains an important colonial-era heritage site
