Portrait of General William North

General William North was certainly one of the "worthy personages" of the American Revolution, so much so that Charles Willson Peale himself painted his portrait in 1785. Decades later, an unknown artist faithfully copied the original, producing this portrait.

North finished his military career and turned to politics, becoming, among other positions, the New York State Assemblyman representing Schenectady in 1810. Evidence suggests that this portrait was painted for another Assemblyman from Schenectady, Alonzo C. Paige, who began his service in 1827.