BritishofficerRossPoldarkreturnstohisnativeCornwallaftertheRevolutionaryWarafterescapingasaprisonerofwar.Hefindsthatbecausehewasbelieveddead,hishomehasfallenintoruinandhisestatehasshiftedtohismercenaryunclefollowingthedeathofhisfather.Hisunclehascommittedtosellingthefamilycopperandtinminestoaruthlesslocallandbaronwhilehisformerfiancéehasagreedtomarryhiscousininhisabsenc