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Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben is a bronze statue of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Prussian soldier who assisted the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Erected in 1910 in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., it was sculpted by Albert Jaegers, with the base designed by Cass Gilbert and T. R. Johnson. The statue honors Steuben’s role at Valley Forge, the Southern Campaign, and the Siege of Yorktown. Its unveiling drew about 10,000 people, including President William Howard Taft. The monument stands on a tall base with two sets of figures and is part of the American Revolution Statuary in Washington, D.C., as well as a contributing property to the L'Enfant Plan and Lafayette Square Historic District.

Full-length statue of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben in a tricorn hat, cloak, and military coat on a stone base.
Statue of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben in full military dress.
1916 © · No restrictions
Von Steuben monument with a dark statue atop a stone pedestal, flanked by bronze figures and carved inscriptions.
The Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben monument in a grassy park, showing the tall pedestal, bronze figures, and carved inscription panels.
June 2012 © Daderot · CC0
Rear view of the von Steuben statue on a tall stone pedestal with reliefs on the base.
The von Steuben statue in Lafayette Park, shown from behind on its tall stone pedestal.
June 2012 © · CC0
Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben statue on a tall stone pedestal in a grassy park with trees, with a person sitting at the base behind a low barrier.
The Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben monument stands in Lafayette Square, with a visitor seated at the base.
May 2009 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Partial view of the Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben monument on a stone base beside a grassy park and brick path.
The Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben monument stands beside a grassy area in Lafayette Park.
© NPS Photo · Public domain

Identification

TitleMajor General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Depicted subjectFriedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Typebronze statue

Historical context

Congressional appointmentIn May 1778, at Washington's recommendation, Congress appointed him to an unspecified post
Residence and deathLived in a house at the Society's headquarters near Utica, New York, and died there in 1794
Property grantedAbout 16,000 acres near Utica, New York, granted by the state
AssociationsCo-founder of the Society of the Cincinnati
Postwar activitiesHelped demobilize the army and prepare a defense plan for the new nation
Yorktown roleCommanded one of three American divisions and helped prepare reinforcements for the French contingent under Gilbert Lafayette
Later campaignsServed with General Nathanael Greene in the southern campaign in winter 1779–80 and took part in the Yorktown campaign
Manual preparedRegulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States ('Blue Book')
Training methodFormed a model company of 100 men and introduced progressive training
Other military reformsImproved sanitary standards, camp design, and produced a standard training manual
Subject birth and deathBorn September 17, 1730, in Prussia; died November 28, 1794, in New York
Subject nationalityPrussian; later became a U.S. citizen in 1784
Subject military careerJoined the Prussian army at 17, served in the Seven Years' War, and later served in the Continental Army
Subject early educationGraduated from a Jesuit school in Breslau
Subject early serviceServed on Frederick the Great's staff after work with the Prussian General Staff
Subject rankCaptain in the Prussian army; later recommended for promotion to lieutenant general
NicknameCalled the 'father of military training'
Work at Valley ForgeArrived at Valley Forge on February 23, 1778, and trained American soldiers using Prussian methods
Subject identityPrussian-American military officer and general in the American Revolutionary War
Subject role in the Revolutionary WarAssisted the Continental Army, trained troops at Valley Forge, and helped in the Southern Campaign and the Siege of Yorktown
Subject outcomeAfter the war he was granted land, later lived in New York, and died in 1794
Planning contextPlanned in the late 1890s as part of a series of statues in Lafayette Square honoring foreign heroes
AuthorizationAuthorized by an Act of Congress in 1903
Appropriation$50,000

Creator

SculptorAlbert Jaegers
Base designersCass Gilbert and T. R. Johnson

Discovery and provenance

Design approvalApproved by Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Replica in PotsdamAn exact copy of the Washington statue was presented by the U.S. Congress to Wilhelm II and the German people and erected in Potsdam's Steuben Square in 1911
Competition for sculptorA competition held two years after the act selected the sculptor from six submissions, narrowed to three designs and then two models

History and restoration

Replica fateRemoved by Soviet troops at the end of World War II and melted down by East German officials in 1950
Replica presentation occasionPresented in 1911 by Representative Bartholdt and Mrs. S. B. Wolfram of New York; Bartholdt described it as a gift from the American people
Post-reunification replicaAfter German reunification, a replica was installed near the former Potsdam location in 2005 as a sign of German-American friendship
Lafayette Square Historic District statusNational Historic Landmark; listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 1973
L'Enfant Plan listing datesListed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 1971 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997
Contributing property statusContributing property to the L'Enfant Plan and the Lafayette Square Historic District
Historic designationOne of 14 American Revolution Statuary in Washington, D.C.; listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 1979
Other related monumentA related Washington monument to Frederick the Great's work was installed at Fort McNair in 1904
West Berlin replicaA replacement was installed in West Berlin in 1987 as part of the city's 750th anniversary celebrations
Ceremony detailsThe unveiling took place in rainy Washington, D.C., followed by a large parade reviewed by the president and other dignitaries
Later ceremonyA wreath-laying ceremony was held at the statue in 2019 with representatives of LGBT military veterans present
Unveiling and dedication dateDecember 7, 1910
Contract signedJanuary 1907
Unveiling attendanceAbout 10,000 people
Unveiling participantsPresident William Howard Taft and his daughter Helen Taft Manning
Installation date1910
Main statue completedJuly 1909
Base statues completedDecember 1908
Working model completed1908

Physical characteristics

Composition on the baseTwo male figures on the northeast side symbolize military instruction, and two female figures on the southwest side symbolize commemoration
Base ornamentationThe base has bronze allegorical figures on the sides and reliefs on the front and back
Base materialPink granite
Base formTall square pedestal
Base height15 feet (4.6 m)
Figure height10 feet (3 m)

Appearance

Left-hand attributeLeaning on a cane and holding his cloak at the waist
Depicted poseVon Steuben is shown looking into the distance while inspecting Continental Army soldiers in 1778
Depicted attireContinental Army uniform with sash, boots, tricorn hat, cape, cloak, and waistcoat

Iconography and meaning

Meaning of side figuresOne side group shows a male instructor training a youth in sword use; the other shows a woman and youth symbolizing the grafting of von Steuben's foreign influence onto the American tree of life
Honoree statusOne of the foreign heroes of the American Revolutionary War honored in Lafayette Square
Historical referenceThe statue depicts von Steuben inspecting Continental Army soldiers in 1778 during the American Revolution
Rear inscriptionColonel William North. Major Benjamin Walker. Aides and friends of General von Steuben
Rear decorationProfiles in relief of Colonel William North and Major Benjamin Walker, described as aides and friends of General von Steuben
Front decorationAn American eagle with outstretched wings
Front inscriptionErected by the Congress of the United States to Frederick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand Baron von Steuben in grateful recognition of his services to the American people in their struggle for liberty. Born in Prussia, September 17, 1730. Died in New York, November 28, 1794. After serving as aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great of Prussia, he offered his sword to the American colonies and was appointed major general and inspector general in the Continental Army. He gave military training and discipline to the citizen soldiers who achieved the independence of the United States. M.C.M.X.

Location and ownership

Ownership and maintenanceOwned and maintained by the National Park Service
Associated sculptures in the squareMonuments to Comte de Rochambeau, Marquis de Lafayette, Tadeusz Kościuszko, and Andrew Jackson
SettingLafayette Square
LocationNorthwest corner of Lafayette Square, across from the White House, Washington, D.C.
Lafayette Square contextLafayette Square was created in 1821 and named in 1824 after Marquis de Lafayette; it is north of the White House between 15th and 17th Streets and covers 7 acres
Surrounding monumentsThe square's other corners are occupied by monuments to Marquis de Lafayette, Jean de Rochambeau, and Tadeusz Kościuszko; an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson stands in the center