The Faces Behind Independence Day

   Here are a few of my favorite portraits of very important people who contributed to the war of independence and the development of the United States.

    This is my favorite painting of General George Washington by John Trumbull. With a look of satisfaction across his face and relaxed stance, Washington gazes out to the horizon. In this artwork, I like to imagine him as if he was looking optimistically into America's future.

    The painting below that is said to be a more accurate likeness of Washington. I think he looks a little like Will Ferrell!

 

General George Washington in 1782

  

George Washington in 1772 by Charles Wilson

   
   People seem to cast aside the second president of the Unites States, but I find John Adams to be a truly fascinating character, on top of being a great player during the war and the country's development. Adams was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and he assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence. As a diplomat serving in Europe, Adams helped negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain and managed to obtain essential governmental loans from Amsterdam bankers during his time in Holland. When presented to King George III, His Majesty mentioned how he was aware of Adams' lack of confidence in the French government. While admitting this, Adams stated: "I must avow to your Majesty that I have no attachment but to my own country." Also, his views on women were uncharacteristic of typical 18th century men, mirroring almost modern day views.
   As Americans, we have a lot to owe to John Adams. His unselfish devotion to the American Colony, and eventually the United States, is almost unparalleled. Adams sacrificed his public image to do what was right for his country. Even when everybody questioned him, his great intellect and wisdom always pulled through to save the day. On top of this, Adams gave up spending much time with his family, who needed him as much as he needed them, to pursue diplomatic services and other important duties. As I said, we all owe much of our greatness to John Adams.

President John Adams by Asher Brown Durand

      Abigail Adams is like the woman I always wanted to be. Not only was she one of the most well-educated women in the colonies, but she was also a strong political and women's rights advocate through her husband. In her letters to John Adams she always wrote: "remember the ladies!" Abigail was always John's top adviser. Along with her husband, Abigail believed that slavery was evil and a threat to the American democratic experiment. In a 1776 letter, she explained her doubt that most Virginians had such "passion for Liberty" as they claimed they did, since the deprived their "fellow creatures" of freedom. 

    Mrs. Adams managed to raise their children like a single mother while taking care of the family farm while Mr. Adams was away (which was very frequently). For all of this, and much more, Abigail Adams is like a superwoman in my book. 

Abigail Adams by Gilbert Stuart

    Much like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin needs no introduction or explanations. This 1767 portrait by David Martin depicts Franklin with striking detail, which makes it one of my all-time favorites.

    Father of the Constitution and 4th president of the United States as depicted in 1804 by Gilbert Stuart. James Madison was a little man with a big brain who strategically helped design the Constitution. Madison was the only one smart enough to take notes as the Constitution was being drafted.
    Madison was president during the war of 1812 when the White House burned. His wife, Dolly Madison, managed to save George Washington's presidential portrait from the fire.

James Madison

    Thomas Jefferson: he doubled the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase and more importantly he wrote the Declaration of Independence! I love this portrait of him because it shows Jefferson in a down-to-Earth state, as he often was (he would host meetings while still in his nightshirt).

Thomas Jefferson in 1805

    Samuel Adams was John Adams' rowdy cousin who was responsible for the Boston Tea Party and notoriously fought against John Adams when he was the defence lawyer for the Red Coats responsible for the Boston Massacre.  

    I found appropriate to place King Louis XVI on this list because of his support for the American cause. He supplied ships and funds on the basis that the United States would trade with France instead of Great Britain once independence was achieved. Unfortunately that did not happen and old Louis lost his head in part because of this ordeal (French money went to help the war of independence instead of going to the French people; a bad investment).
    Also, I found that Louis XVI and George Washington had a lot in common: both were quiet, the strongest amongst men, avid hunters, the best horsemen around and neither of them liked the limelight, despite their high positions of power.

King Louis XVI  in 1775

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!