Marquis de Chastellux

American artist Charles Willson Peale painted this portrait of Francois Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux, around 1782. Chastellux, born in France, had fought in North America in the French and Indian War and then later as a major general in the Revolutionary War. Peale, impressed by Chastellux’s writings on natural history, invited him to sit for this portrait while Chastellux was staying in Philadelphia. Chastellux is known for his 1787 book, Travels in North America, which provides vivid descriptions of people he met and places he stayed during his time on the continent.