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Washington's 1781 Yorktown Surrender Letter Unveiled in London

6/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 1781 surrender letter written after the British defeat at Yorktown is being shown publicly for the first time in London.
It, signed by General George Washington, will be displayed at the National Archives in Kew as part of the Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763–1783 exhibit.
Curator Dr Sean Cunningham said the letter marks the moment Britain realized it must relinquish the thirteen colonies.

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Story summary

The 1781 surrender letter written after the British defeat at Yorktown is being shown publicly for the first time in London.
It, signed by General George Washington, will be displayed at the National Archives in Kew as part of the Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763–1783 exhibit.
Curator Dr Sean Cunningham said the letter marks the moment Britain realized it must relinquish the thirteen colonies.