TRUMBULL, JOHN ( 1756-1843). An Ameri can historical and portrait painter. The son of Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, lie was born at Lebanon, Conn., .June 6, 1756, graduated at Harvard in 1773, and two years later entered the Continental Army. Having made for Washington a plan of the British works before Boston Neck. he was appointed an aide de-camp, and the following year a deputy adju tant-general under Gates. He retired from the army in 1777, but in 1778 he took part as a vol unteer in General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island; and in 1780 he became a pupil of Benja min West, in London. The news of Andre's exe cut ion fastened upon him the suspicion of being a spy, and lie was imprisoned for eight months. In 1782 he returned to America and remained until the Peace of Paris had been signed, when he went back to London to continue his studies. In 1784 he went to Paris, where, in consultation with Thomas Jef ferson, he painted his first historical picture. "The Signing of the Deelaration of Independence." This picture and those of the "Surrender of Burgoyne," "Surrender of Cornwallis," "Resig nation of Washington at Annapolis," hang in the Capitol at Washington. Most of his pictures
are at the Art Gallery of Yale College, to which he presented them in return for an an nuity of $1000. Among the principal are the "Battle of Bunker Dill" (1786) ; "Death of Montgomery" (1781) ; "Battle of Prince ton." "Battle of Trenton," and portraits of Washington. Hamilton. the Duke of Wel lington, and others. Other well-known por traits by him are those of Washington, George Clinton, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton, in the New Yo•k City Hall; of General and Mrs. Washington in the National Museum, Washing ton; of John Adams, of his father, Jonathan Trumbull, and of Rufus King. Although not of the highest rank, his work is good in composition and color, and is pervaded by a healthy realism. Tn 1794 he served under Jay as secretary of legation in England; and from 1816 to 1825 was president of the AeSdeiny of Fine Arts. New York, in which city he died, November 10, 1843. Consult his Autobiography (New York, 1841) ; Durand, in American Art Reriew (1SS1).