ALS, DLC:GW.

John Trumbull (1756–1843) was the youngest son of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut and the brother of GW’s wartime aide Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. John Trumbull also served GW as an aide-de-camp but after a short and somewhat unsuccessful stint moved to active military service and, in the intervals between assignments, continued to study painting. In 1780 he was able, in spite of the war, to make arrangements to study painting with Benjamin West in London. In late 1780 he was briefly imprisoned in London on suspicion of treason. After his release he remained in London, with short interruptions, continuing his work with West and producing a series of paintings dealing with the events of the American Revolution. In 1787 and 1788 he spent some time in Paris, painting French officers associated with the American Revolution. During this time he usually stayed with Jefferson, and shortly before returning to the United States, Jefferson offered Trumbull the post of secretary of legation in Paris (Jefferson to Trumbull, 21 May 1789, in Boyd, Jefferson Papers, description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends 15:143–44). In the summer of 1789 Trumbull spent some time in England, making preparations for his passage to America. He arrived in New York City on 26 Nov. (Trumbull, Autobiography, description begins Theodore Sizer, ed. The Autobiography of Colonel John Trumbull: Patriot-Artist, 1756–1843. 1953. Reprint. New York, 1970. description ends 163).