Nathaniel Ramsay

Born in Lancaster Pennsylvania, Nathaniel Ramsey (1741-1817) was a soldier and lawyer. After receiving his law degree from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), he moved to Maryland to practice law. Ramsey was an important public figure during the American Revolution and beyond. He served as a delegate to the Maryland Convention, in 1775, and then joined the Continental Army as a Captain in the Maryland Regiment, in 1776, before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Maryland Regiment. Ramsey was wounded and taken prisoner by the British during the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. From 1785-1787, he was a member of the Continental Congress.





In 1771, Ramsay married Margaret Jane Peale (1743-1788), the sister of artist Charles Willson Peale. This beautifully rendered miniature portrait by Peale captures his deep affection for his brother-in-law. Peale had a great admiration for Ramsay, who was a loyal friend and advisor. Ramsay played an influential role in convincing Peale to create a museum as an important undertaking for the young nation, not only as a contribution to learning but as a business investment. His advice and support were instrumental in leading Peale to form the Peale Museum of natural history in Philadelphia. Inspired by eighteenth-century Enlightenment ideals, it became the nation’s first museum when it opened in 1784.