ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. — Baron von Steuben to Baron de Gaudy, 1787-88 . Replaced by the Marquis de Lafayette later that month, he moved south with a Continental force to join Greene despite the arrival of Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis army in the state. September 17, 1730 - November 28, 1794 Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben was born on September 17, 1730, in the fortress town of Magdeburg in Prussia but spent most of the first decade of his life in Russia with his father. The significant occurance during Valley Forge were the contributions of Baron von Steuben. In those intervening years, von Steuben served as Grand Marshall, a lofty title for administrative director of the court, of the Prince of Hollenzollern-Hechingen. He provided hands-on lessons, and Washington's independent-minded combat veterans were willing to learn … He was 64. Seeking out the French Minister of War, Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain, who had met previously in 1763, von Steuben again was unable to obtain a position. Baron von Steuben’s tomb. The Prussian Baron von Steuben, being a newcomer to theRevolutionary cause in America, was in a position to seemany of the deficiencies in military discipline and theircauses. Without any luck of finding another job, von Steuben decided to accept and set out to the British colonies. Steuben was born in Magdeburg, the son of a Prussian military officer, and educated in Germany and Russia. The same prince bestowed the title “baron” to von Steuben in 1771. Wounded a the defeat at Kunersdorf in 1759, von Steuben again returned to action. He was present in the final campaign at Yorktown resulted in the American victory of the American Revolution. Two years later, he officially entered the Prussian Army after turning 17. He could only be a volunteer in the Continental Army, which made von Steuben furious enough to decline. He was the only officer to travel with the incognito prince to France in hopes of borrowing some money. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Highly impressed with von Steuben's work, Washington successfully petitioned Congress to permanently appoint von Steuben inspector general with the rank and pay of a major general. Baron Von Steuben | History of Valley Forge PA Baron Friedrich Von Steuben Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, also known as Baron von Steuben, was born in 1730 in Magedeburg, Prussia (modern-day Germany). After several months of seeking employment, von Steuben received an appointment as hofmarschall (chancellor) to Josef Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Von Steuben was born in Magdeburg fortress where his father was an engineer lieutenant in the military in 1730. In addition, von Steuben introduced a system of progressive training for recruits which educated them in the basics of soldiering. Donate today to preserve Revolutionary War battlefields and the nation’s history for generations to come. Facts about Baron von Steuben talk about Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Steuben. He was famous as the Prussian born American military officer. Discussion/Question. Arriving at Washington's headquarters on February 23, he quickly impressed Washington though communication proved difficult as a translator was required. He wrote the drills in French since he could not speak English and had his military secretary translate the drills into English. Beginning with a "model company" of 100 chosen men, von Steuben instructed them in the drill, maneuver, and a simplified manual of arms. He once said: The genius of this nation is not in the least to be compared with the Prussians, the Austrians, or French. The English-born Eleazer Oswald, who issued this edition in Philadelphia in 1786, had served in the Continental Army throughout the Revolutionary War before returning to the printing trade. One stated  that “he seemed to me to be the personification of Mars,” the Roman God of War. In a common tongue, he would say, “My dear Duponceau, come and swear for me in English, these fellows won’t do what I bid them.” However, von Steuben quickly caught on to the swear word vernacular of the English language and his booming voice with these new additions soon echoed around the training field. Initial efforts to obtain a military commission in Austria and Baden failed, and he traveled to Paris to try his luck with the French. These 100 men were in turn sent out to other units to repeat the process and so on until the entire army was trained. Initially assigned to the infantry, von Steuben sustained a wound at the Battle of Prague in 1757. 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On February 23, 1778, George Washington rode out of Valley Forge to meet Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. His title of freiherr, or baron, came with his subsequent post as chamberlain (or palace manager) to the petty court of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in Swabia, or the southwestern Holy Roman Em… In 1763, at age 33 and with the rank of captain, he was discharged for unknown reasons. Buried locally, his grave is now the site of Steuben Memorial State Historic Site. Suffering from ill health, he elected to take sick leave later that summer. Baron Wilhelm von Steuben, and his wife, Elizabeth von Jagvodin. In 1747, at 17, von Steuben enlisted in the Prussian army as a lance-corporal. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben was born on September 17, 1730, in the fortress town of Magdeburg in Prussia but spent most of the first decade of his life in Russia with his father. Due to the intricacies and intrigues between George Washington and the Continental Congress’s appointed Board of War, von Steuben was appointed as the temporary Inspector General. Attached to Washington's headquarters, von Steuben continued to work to improve the army. He was essentially run out of Germany, when a General name Anhalt prosecuted him for his homosexual relationships. Elevated to captain by 1761, von Steuben continued to see extensive service in the Prussian campaigns of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Divisions of the American Battlefield Trust: The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As a young child,... Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord of Cameron was born on October 22, 1693, in Leeds Castle, Kent, England... Save 40 Acres of the American Revolution Southern Theater, Kentuckians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation, Virginians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation. With the prince short on funds, he accompanied him to France in 1771 with the hope of securing a loan. Soon after, he was discharged from the military because of speculations that Baron von Steuben was gay. About Him How has he helped? In the winter of 1778-1779, the Baron wrote, “Regulation for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States”. Von Steuben met with Congress, which arranged for von Steuben to be paid based upon the outcome of the war and his contributions. Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben was born September 17, 1730, at Magdeburg. 3 – He was probably gay. Significance: The Steuben Memorial honors the "Drillmaster of the American Revolution," Baron von Steuben, whose valuable wartime services have been described as being second in importance only to those of George Washington. In September 1780, von Steuben served on the court-martial for British spy Major John André. The results of von Steuben's training regimen immediately showed in the American performances at Barren Hill (May 20) and Monmouth (June 28). Most of his adolescent years were spent in Russia, but with his father at the age of 10, they returned to Germany. Copies of the drills were given to each company and officer. The son of Lieutenant Wilhelm von Steuben, a military engineer, and Elizabeth von Jagvodin, he spent some of his early years in Russia after his father was assigned to assist Czarina Anna. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Please consider making a gift today to help raise the $170,000 we need to preserve this piece of American history forever. They say Prussia's "Baron" von Steuben was the "Father of the US military", teaching the Prussian art of professional soldiery to the spirited but woefully untrained Patriot forces at Valley Forge. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, better known as Baron von Steuben (1730-1794), was a Prussian military officer who contributed to the training of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.. In the winter of 1778-1779, he wrote Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States which outlined training courses as well as general administrative procedures. In approximately two months, a complete transformation in the army took place, with the army tackling the basic drills, from firearm control to line and marching formations. Though less than he had hoped, it allowed Hamilton and Walker to stabilize his finances. It also stated that payment for his service would be determined after the war and based upon his contributions during his tenure with the army. With the end of the conflict, he resigned his commission in March 1784, and lacking potential employment in Europe decided to settle in New York City. SSUSH4 – Analyze the ideological, military, social, and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 53,000 acres in 24 states! He was schooled in Breslau by Jesuits and by the age of 17...was a … Baron von Steuben was born in the fortress town of Magdeburg on September 17, 1730, the son of Royal Prussian Engineer, Capt. Washington was instantly impressed with his military knowledge and strong Accepting his services, Congress directed him to join General George Washington's Continental Army at Valley Forge. General Washington appointed Steuben as the first Inspector General. This request was granted on May 5, 1778. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Baron von Steuben appealed to Congress about having uniform inspections within the army. When he first arrived at Valley Forge he had cheated his credentials and hired actors, but this has not gone to waste. Criticized by the public, he halted on June 11 and moved to join Lafayette in opposing Cornwallis. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben (1730 – 1794) “A fraud — not really a baron, and holding no high military rank, von Steuben was a skilled drill master who taught the American army what it needed to win the war. He led a checkered and undistinguished life as a mid level Prussian Army officer and probably came to America in part to escape debt. Ever since he served under Josef Friedrich Wilhelm, rumors swirled of Baron von Steuben’s penchant for the same sex. At age 10 he returned to Germany and attended more formal schooling. Von Steuben’s first job was to create a standard method of drills for the entire army. Moving through numerous editions, this work remained in use up to the War of 1812. Early life. Enjoying the comfortable lifestyle provided by this position, he was made a knight of the aristocratic Order of Fidelity by the Margrave of Baden in 1769. He searched for positions in the British, French, and Austrian armies to no avail. Though the fighting in North America was largely concluded, von Steuben spent the remaining years of the war working to improve the army as well as began designing plans for the postwar American military. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. First published in 1779, Baron von Steuben's "Regulations" remained the standard for the United States Army and state militia forces through the War of 1812. For the next four years, he split his time between New York City and a cabin near Utica, NY which he built on land given to him for his wartime service. Returning to Germany, von Steuben was again confronted with allegations of homosexuality and was ultimately lured back to Paris by an offer of free passage to America. Von Steuben had connections with the French Minister of War and through him, the Baron met the American ambassadors to France, Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin. Baron von Steuben Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben, also referred to as the Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born military officer who served as inspector general and Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The founding fathers of a brand new nation have encountered the problem of not only establishing a new form of government but also of organizing an army able to defend it. Sample essay topic, essay writing: Baron Von Steuben - 686 words. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Significance of Baron von Steuben for US Armed Forces In 1775 a new country on the American continent was striving for independence and its very existence. Though he had no use for von Steuben, Saint-Germain recommended him to Benjamin Franklin, citing von Steuben's extensive staff experience with the Prussian Army. Again meeting with the Americans, he received letters of introduction from Franklin and Deane on the understanding that he would be a volunteer without rank and pay. During this period he spent time in the Crimea as well as Kronstadt. Baron von Steuben, as he is better known, was the son of a military engineer and became a Prussian officer himself at the age of 17. Designation: Though he hoped to live a genteel life of retirement, Congress failed to give him a pension and granted only a small amount of his expense claims. Traveling south, he presented himself to the Continental Congress at York, PA on February 5. Through St. Germain, Steuben was introduced to the American ambassadors to France, Silas Deane and Benjamin Fra… Lafayette went to America in1777 and became one of the leaders of the French Expeditionary Force, which fought alongside the American colonists. He also endeavored to improve the army's record-keeping to minimize graft and profiteering. Proving an adept organizer, he received an appointment as battalion adjutant and earned a promotion to first lieutenant two years later. Steuben passed away on 28 November 1794. Every purchase supports the mission. That same year, 1763, von Steuben met the Frenchman Louis de St. Germain in the northern German town of Hamburg. Despite his impressive record, von Steuben found himself unemployed at the end of the war in 1763 when the Prussian Army was reduced to peacetime levels. On October 17, his men were in the trenches when the British offer of surrender was received. His mission was to observe the American soldiers, equipment, skills, and living conditions. Fourteen years later, St. Germain was serving as France’s Minister of War and helped pave the way for von Steuben’s trip across the Atlantic to serve the American cause. Suffering from financial hardships, he was aided by friends such as Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Walker. This was largely the result of a falsified lineage prepared by von Steuben's father. Recognizing the young officer's skill, Frederick the Great placed von Steuben on his personal staff as an aide-de-camp and in 1762 admitted him to the special class on warfare that he taught. He immediately commenced designing a training program for the army. Additionally, Congress had grown wearisome of dealing with foreign officers who often demanded high rank and exorbitant pay. Von Steuben was extremely discouraged by the state of the Continental Army, yet the men that would soon fall under his tutelage were impressed. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. With a letter of introduction tucked in his pocket and a Russian wolfhound strolling alongside, von Steuben headed toward the Continental Army winter encampment at Valley Forge. Baron von Steuben was a staff officer in the Seven Years War. Elevated to captain by 1761, von Steuben continued to see extensive service in the Prussian campaigns of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His outstanding service got him assigned to Frederick the Great's headquarters. Help save a crucial 22-acre tract on the battlefield where 14 African American soldiers earned the highest military honor in the land. Von Steuben was discharged from the Prussian army at the rank of captain on April 29, 1763, shortly after the Treaties of Paris and Hubertusburg ended the war. At age 10 he returned to Germany and attended more formal schooling. Many people call him as Baron von Steuben. Baron Friedrich Von Steuben was a Prussian officer who came to America to train soldiers in the Continental army. Von Steuben established a “model company” of 100 men from each brigade in addition to the 50 Virginians that came from Washington’s Life Guard company to demonstrate new drills for the rest of the army. 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