Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Von (Baron)
Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Von [Baron] (1730–1794), Revolutionary War general.Born at Magdeburg, Friedrich Steuben followed his father's path into the Prussian Army, eventually serving as an infantry officer, staff officer, and aide under Frederick the Great. Court life lured the young captain from the army in 1764, but the American Revolutionary War drew him back to military service. In 1777, the self‐proclaimed Lt. Gen. “Baron von” Steuben—who was neither a general nor a nobleman—arrived in Philadelphia and requested a commission in the Continental army. Americans soon found that if the Prussian had misrepresented his credentials, he did not exaggerate his talents.
After Congress accepted Steuben's offer to serve without rank in January 1778, he found the beleaguered Continentals at Valley Forge lacking the skill and knowledge of European regulars. Steuben consequently developed a system of drill that customized European methods to American needs, demonstrated its effectiveness on his personally trained “model company,” and eventually published its principal elements in Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States (1779). By May 1778, he became inspector general, with the rank of major general. Though he also served in the field, Steuben's most significant military contribution remained the greater degree of professionalism he gave to Continental forces.
After Congress accepted Steuben's offer to serve without rank in January 1778, he found the beleaguered Continentals at Valley Forge lacking the skill and knowledge of European regulars. Steuben consequently developed a system of drill that customized European methods to American needs, demonstrated its effectiveness on his personally trained “model company,” and eventually published its principal elements in Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States (1779). By May 1778, he became inspector general, with the rank of major general. Though he also served in the field, Steuben's most significant military contribution remained the greater degree of professionalism he gave to Continental forces.
Bibliography
John M. Palmer , General von Steuben, 1937; repr. 1966.
J. Mark Thompson
More From encyclopedia.com
Karl Von Clausewitz , Karl von Clausewitz
Karl von Clausewitz
German military leader and strategist Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) has been called the "father of modern w… Gerhard Johann David Von Scharnhorst , Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst
Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst
The Prussian general Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (1755-1813) rebui… Wernher Von Braun , Von Braun, Wernher
Died June 16, 1977 (Alexandria, Virginia)
German-born American rocket engineer
Wernher von Braun was the most famous rocket engine… Graf von Ferdinand Zeppelin , Zeppelin, Ferdinand, Count von (1838–1917) German army officer and inventor. Zeppelin served in the armies of Württemburg and Prussia. While an obser… Herbert Von Karajan , Von Karajan, Herbert
Conductor
Herbert von Karajan is hailed by many as the greatest living conductor of orchestral music. He is revered for elicitin… Gebhard Leberecht Von Blucher , Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
The Prussian field marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (1742-1819) commanded the Prussi…
About this article
Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben