John Trumbull - Definition and Overview

John Trumbull, 1756–1843

John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843), was a famous American artist from the time of the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Lebanon, Connecticut. He entered the 1773 junior class at Harvard at age 15. Four of his paintings hang in the United States Capitol building. He painted about 250 portraits.

As a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, Trumbull was able to witness the famous Battle of Bunker Hill.

He died in New York City at the age of 88. He is interred beneath the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut. Part of the inscription on his tomb says "To his Country he gave his SWORD and his PENCIL".

His famous paintings include the following (articles marked * are illustrated with his painting):

• The Battle of Bunker Hill *
• The Death of General Montgomery at Quebec
• The Declaration of Independence *
• The Battle of Trenton
• The Battle of Princeton
• The Surrender of General Burgoyne
• The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown *
• Washington resigning his Commission
• Portraits of George Washington and John Adams *