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Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben Facts

Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben Facts
Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben was a Prussian military officer who served with the Continental Army during the American Revolution as Major General. He was born Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben on September 17th, 1730 in Magdeburg, Duchy of Magdeburg. Friedrich was the son of Capt. Baron Wilhelm von Steuben, a Royal Prussian Engineer, and Elizabeth von Jagvodin. At 14 Friedrich served as a volunteer in the War of the Austrian Succession and at 17 he joined the Prussian Army. His military career continued, despite being wounded a few times in battle.
Interesting Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben Facts:
Friedrich was wounded during the Seven Years' War at the Battle of Prague in 1757, while serving as a second lieutenant.
Friedrich was promoted to first lieutenant in 1759. That same year he was wounded again, at the Battle of Kunersdorf.
In 1761 Friedrich became deputy quartermaster at general headquarters.
In 1761 Friedrich was captured and imprisoned at Treptow by the Russians. In 1762 he was released.
In 1762 Friedrich was promoted to captain and became Frederick the Great's aide-de-camp.
In 1763 Friedrich was discharged from the Prussian Army. The peace treaty left many officers unemployed.
Friedrich became Grand Marshall to Furst Josef Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in 1764. He held this position until 1777.
In 1769 Frederick the Great's niece the Duchess of Wurttemberg gave Friedrich the Cross of the Order of De la Fidelite.
In 1771 Friedrich was made a baron.
In 1777 the French Minister of War Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain in Hamburg introduced Friedrich to Benjamin Franklin. This meeting would eventually lead to Friedrich joining the Continental Army in the American Revolution.
Friedrich was appointed the temporary Inspector General by Washington, and soon established standards for camp layouts and sanitary practices.
In 1778 General Washington recommended that Friedrich be appointed Inspector General of the Army, which Congress approved.
Friedrich formed the honor guard, who went on to train other army members.
Friedrich's bayonet training allowed American soldiers to win the Battle of Stony Point with unloaded muskets.
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben wrote Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States in 1778 and 1779. The manual would be used until 1814 by the United States Army. The tactics and drills contained in the book were used up until 1846 during the Mexican War.
In 1781 Friedrich was forced on sick leave, but was present at the final campaign at Yorktown as commander of one three of Washington's groups of troops.
Friedrich helped to demobilize the army in 1783. He also helped to establish the country's defense plan.
In 1784 Friedrich was honorably discharged from the army.
In 1784 Friedrich became an American citizen. He settled on Manhattan Island.
Friedrich was given a pension in 1790, of $2500 a year.
On November 28th, 1794, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben died. He never married and had no children.
Many cities in the United States celebrate Von Steuben Day in September, with marches and dancing and German costumes. In New York City each September the German-American Steuben Parade is held.


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