Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was a Prussian military officer and a Founding Father of the United States who played a leading role in the American Revolutionary War by reforming the Continental Army into a disciplined and professional fighting force. His contributions marked a significant improvement in the performance of U.S. troops, and he is consequently regarded as one of the fathers of the United States Army. Born into a military family, Steuben was exposed to war from an early age; at 14 years old, he observed his father directing Prussian engineers in the 1744 siege of Prague. At age 16 or 17, he enlisted in the Prussian Army, which was considered the most professional and disciplined in Europe. During his 17 years of military service, Steuben took part in several battles in the Seven Years' War (1756–63), rose to the rank of captain, and became aide-de-camp to King Frederick II of Prussia, who was renowned for his military prowess and strategy. Steuben's career culminated in his attendance of Frederick's elite school for young military officers, after which he was abruptly discharged from the army in 1763, allegedly by the machinations of a rival. Steuben spent 11 years as court chamberlain to the prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, a small German principality. In 1769, the Duchess of Wurttemburg, a niece of Frederick, named him to the chivalric Order of Fidelity, a meritorious award that conferred the title, Freiherr, or 'free lord'; in 1771, his service to Hohenzollern-Hechingen earned him the title baron. In 1775, as the American Revolution had begun, Steuben saw a reduction in his salary and sought some form of military work; unable to find employment in peacetime Europe, he joined the U.S. war effort through mutual French contacts with U.S. diplomats, most notably ambassador to France Benjamin Franklin. Due to his military exploits, and his willingness to serve the Americans without compensation, Steuben made a positive impression on both Congress and General George Washington, who appointed him as temporary Inspector General of the Continental Army. Steuben arrived at Valley Forge in February 1778 and began training and drilling the soldiers according to Prussian standards. He taught them how to handle their weapons, march in formation, execute maneuvers, and maintain discipline. He also wrote 'Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States', which became the standard United States drill manual until the War of 1812. He also helped Washington plan the defense of Valley Forge and supervised the construction of fortifications. Steuben participated in several battles during the war, including Monmouth, Blandford, and Yorktown. He was promoted to major general in 1784 and received a grant of land from Congress for his services. He settled on his estate in Oneida County, New York, where he lived with his aides-de-camp William North and Benjamin Walker, who were rumored to be his lovers. He died on November 28, 1794, at his estate and was buried in a grove at what became the Steuben Memorial State Historic Site.