STUART, Gilbert Charles, sometimes called American Stuart, was an eminent painter, born of Scottish parents at Narraganset, Rhode Island, United States, in 1755. He accompanied a travelling artist, named Alexander, to Scotland, where he resided for some time, but returned again to America in 1773. Having again proceeded to London in 1775, he contrived to support himself by playing as an organist in a church in that city. Meeting with his countryman, Benjamin West, who took him into his studio as his pupil and assistant, his career henceforward was one of prosperity. His life, however, was a scene of change and confusion, caused entirely by his intemperate habits. After painting the portraits of many distinguished men in London, Dublin, and Paris, he returned to America, where he exercised his pencil on portraits of Washington, Jefferson, J. Q. Adams, and many other men of note. He died at Boston July 1828. Stuart is generally recognised to be one of the greatest portrait-painters which America has yet produced.