BritishofficerRossPoldarkreturnstohisnativeCornwallaftertheRevolutionaryWarafterescapingasaprisonerofwar.Hefindsthatbecausehewasbelieveddead,hishomehasfallenintoruinandhisestatehasshiftedtohismercenaryunclefollowingthedeathofhisfather.Hisunclehascommittedtosellingthefamilycopperandtinminestoaruthlesslocallandbaronwhilehisformerfiancéehasagreedtomarryhiscousininhisabsence.