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I 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). I was educated at the Middle Temple, London and went up to University College, Oxford University where I matriculated in 1771, after which I entered the British Army.

As a young man, I had inherited £5,000 on my father's death, but lost it all on gambling, in less than a year, mostly at the Cocoa Tree club in London. In 1775 my mother purchased a commission for me (quite a lovely gift) as a cavalry officer in the 1st Dragoon Guards where I proved to be a gifted horseman and leader of troops. At least I had a good time.

In December 1775, I sailed as a volunteer to America with Lord Cornwallis, and his services to the British during the American Rebellion in the year 1776. It was bloody cold. After showing great prowess and expertise as a soldier I was awarded the position of a brigade major of cavalry. Lord Cornwallis took me under his wing and we had quite the relationship (Yes, I am a fop but I do prefer to spend my intimate time with members of the fairer sex.) He was a wonderful mentor. I now, of course, have second thoughts about how I treated him in my accountings of the war.

Under the command of Colonel William Harcourt, I was part of a scouting party sent to gather intelligence on the movements of General Charles Lee in New Jersey. On Friday, December 13, my men surrounded a house in Basking Ridge, New Jersey and forced Lee, still in his dressing gown, to surrender by threatening to burn the building down.

After becoming the commander of the British Legion, a mixed force of cavalry and light infantry also called Tarleton's Raiders, I proceeded at the beginning of 1780 to South Carolina, rendering valuable services to Sir Henry Clinton in the operations which culminated in the capture of Charleston, South Carolina.

On May 29, 1780, I, with a force of 150 mounted soldiers, overtook a detachment of 350 to 380 Virginia Continentals led by Abraham Buford. Buford refused to surrender or even to stop his march. Only after sustaining heavy casualties did Buford order the surrender. What happened next is cause of heated debate. According to American accounts, I ignored the white flag and "mercilessly massacred Buford's men". In the end, 113 Americans died and another 203 captured, 150 of whom were so badly wounded that they had to be left behind. My list of casualties were 5 killed and 12 wounded. We called the affair the Battle of Waxhaw Creek, while the Americans knew it as the Buford Massacre or the Waxhaw Massacre when in fact Buford ignored the terms of surrender and wished to carry on the fight. It's not my fault that Buford's men were inadequate.

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