Steuben, Frederick William, Baron, von

Steuben, Frederick William (Augustus), Baron, von

(born Sept. 17, 1730, Magdeburg, Prussia—died Nov. 28, 1794, near Remsen, N.Y., U.S.) German-born American Revolutionary officer. He joined the Prussian army at 16 and was a captain in the Seven Years' War. After the war he retired from the army and became court chamberlain for the prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen; at some unknown date he apparently was created a baron. Recommended to George Washington, he arrived in America in 1777. Appointed to train the Continental forces at Valley Forge, Pa., he produced a disciplined fighting force that became the model for the entire Continental Army. He was appointed inspector general of the army and was promoted to major general (1778), and he helped command the Siege of Yorktown.