Benjamin West
1738 – 1820

Benjamin West

18th- and 19th-century English painter (1738–1820)

architectural drafterpainterartist
Born
1738-10-10, Springfield Township
Died
1820-03-11
Birthplace state
Pennsylvania

Biography

Benjamin West was an American-born British painter who specialised in history painting, creating such works as The Death of Nelson, The Death of General Wolfe, the Treaty of Paris, and Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky.

Occupation

Benjamin West is recorded as a architectural drafter, a painter and a artist, born in Pennsylvania (1738–1820).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Benjamin West was born in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania in 1738. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Springfield Township

Benjamin West came from Springfield Township. A full Aubrey report on Springfield Township pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about Benjamin West

Who was Benjamin West?
Benjamin West was 18th- and 19th-century English painter (1738–1820), born in Pennsylvania (1738 – 1820).
When and where was Benjamin West born?
Benjamin West was born on 1738-10-10 in Springfield Township.
When did Benjamin West die?
Benjamin died on 1820-03-11.
What was Benjamin West known for?
Benjamin West is recorded as a architectural drafter, a painter and a artist.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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