Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

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Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Freiherr von Steuben ( STEW-bən or stew-BEN, German: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈvɪlhɛlm fɔn ˈʃtɔʏbn̩]; born Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin Louis Freiherr von Steuben; September 17, 1730 – November 28, 1794), often referred to in English as Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born army officer who played a leading role in the American Revolutionary War by reforming the Continental Army into a disciplined and professional fighting force. His contributions marked a significant improvement in the performance of U.S. troops, and he is consequently regarded as one of the fathers of the United States Army. Born into a military family, Steuben was exposed to war from an early age; at 14 years old, he observed his father directing Prussian engineers in the 1742 siege of Prague. At age 16 or 17, he enlisted in the Prussian Army, which was considered the most professional and disciplined in Europe. During his 17 years of military service, Steuben took part in...

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