Friedrich W. von Steuben (382)

Friedrich W. von Steuben (17 September 1730–28 November 1794) was a military officer and strategist and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1780. Von Steuben was born in Magdeburg, Prussia to a military family, and began his own service in his teenage years. He became a captain in the Prussian army during the Seven Years’ War and was a member of the general staff, the army’s strategic leadership branch. At the end of the war, von Steuben settled at Hohenzollern-Hechingen where he served as a chamberlain to the prince. Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, who heard of von Steuben while working in France shortly after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, wrote to George Washington of his skill and availability, introducing him with the elevated title of “Lieutenant-General.” Von Steuben travelled to America in late 1777 and was appointed to train troops at Valley Forge. His guidance and organization of this corps was so effective that it was copied throughout the entire Continental Army. Von Steuben wrote a “blue book” for the training and etiquette of troops throughout the United States, and the discipline he imposed upon the newly formed army was integral to their ultimate victory. Congress quickly appointed him a Major General and the Inspector General of the Continental Army in 1778. At the end of the war, he served as the head of a regiment in Virginia and participated in the war’s final battle at Yorktown. Despite his outstanding service record, von Steuben’s reputation was not spotless. He was possibly ousted from the court at Hohenzollern-Hechingen for rumors of inappropriate conduct. After the Revolutionary War, von Steuben lived lavishly on money and land given to him by Congress for his valuable service and plunged himself into debt. He died on his farm in New York City in 1794. (EB)