What is the connection between King of Prussia, PA and Frederick the Great?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the historical naming of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and its connection to Frederick the Great and Frederick von Steuben. Participants explore the origins of the town's name, its historical significance, and the implications of honoring a European monarch versus a military figure who contributed to the American cause.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the name "King of Prussia" is misapplied and should honor Frederick von Steuben instead, who played a crucial role in training the Continental Army.
  • Others note that the town's name originated from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after Frederick II, but the reasons for this naming are unclear.
  • There is speculation that the tavern's name may have been intended to attract business from Prussian soldiers during the American Revolutionary War.
  • Some participants argue that historical markers crediting Frederick II for supporting the American cause are inaccurate and should be removed.
  • Concerns are raised about the practical implications of changing the town's name, including the impact on residents and cartographers.
  • Participants humorously discuss the existence of another Steubenville in Ohio and the cultural implications of naming conventions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of the town's name and the historical figures it honors. There is no consensus on whether the name should be changed or on the accuracy of the historical markers related to Frederick II.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the ambiguity surrounding the historical naming of the tavern and the town, noting the lack of solid information regarding the motivations behind the name "King of Prussia." The discussion reflects differing interpretations of historical events and figures without resolution.

SW VandeCarr
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King of Prussia is located in suburban Philadelphia near Valley Forge. Its name referrers to Frederick the Great, but I suggest the town is misnamed. Any intended gratitude for helping to save the Continental Army in the American War of Independence should be directed to Frederick von Steuben, a former Prussian Army officer who helped Washington drill and discipline the ragged and depleted Continental Army in order to create a reasonably effective military force. Arguably,von Steuben was instrumental in saving the American cause, then at its lowest ebb. But what does this have to do with Frederick the Great? Prussia and Britain had been allies in the Seven Years War and would be allies again in the Napoleonic Wars. There does not seem to be any reason why the Prussian king would want to support the rebels against Britain in this war. Von Steuben was a free agent at this time and received a commission in the Continental Army. His service was arranged by Benjamin Franklin in Europe, who mistakenly thought he was a baron in the Prussian aristocracy.

Therefore, I recommend that the good people of King of Prussia, PA change the name of their town (and shopping mall) to von Steubenville and get on the right side of history. In any case, "King of Prussia" has to be the strangest name for an American town of any I've ever heard. Comments (especially from the locals)?
 
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The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after Frederick II, King of Prussia.

but:

Parker's spy map, created by a Tory sympathizer of the Kingdom of Great Britain, listed the inn as "Berry's" in 1777, but a local petition in 1786 identified it as the "King of Prussia". It was possibly renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin's pro-American satirical essay "An Edict by the King of Prussia".[2] At some point a wooden signboard of the inn depicted King Frederick II (Frederick the Great) of Prussia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Prussia,_Pennsylvania

At any rate, the town was named after the Inn, and it's not clear the Inn was named in gratitude for any alleged help from the monarch in question.

This site speculates the Berries may have named it "King of Prussia" to attract business from the Prussian soldiers who were at Valley Forge and had silver to spend:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060207133553/http://gvfcc.com/kop_name.asp
 
zoobyshoe said:
but:This site speculates the Berries may have named it "King of Prussia" to attract business from the Prussian soldiers who were at Valley Forge and had silver to spend:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060207133553/http://gvfcc.com/kop_name.asp

There doesn't seem to be any solid information as to just how the inn and later the area got its name. However, as your source states, local historical markers do credit Frederick II as having a role in supporting the American cause. Note, the later name King of Prussia Inn was only documented in 1786, 8-9 years after the encampment at Valley Forge. It's not clear that the name wasn't in honor of the King. Now I have courageously disputed the truth of these historical markers and suggested that it's about time that the locals give credit where credit is due; that is to Herr von Steuben. Yes, he lied about being a baron, but the fact that he was a commoner makes it all the more appropriate to honor him as an American hero. The fact that a European monarch should have lent his title (but not his name) to an American town for so long is just wrong imho. It's OK to use his actual name as German immigrants have done in Texas (Fredericksburg) since its part of their heritage. But the US Constitution does not recognize titles of nobility for American citizens. So how does a whole town get to have such a name?

Would you rather shop at the imposing KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA or the friendly Steubenville Mall?
 
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SW VandeCarr said:
Would you rather shop a the imposing KING OF PRUSSIA PLAZA or the friendly Steubenville Mall?
Either way, I really hate malls and my annual trip there around Christmas is a thing of dread.
 
SW VandeCarr said:
However, as your source states, local historical markers do credit Frederick II as having a role in supporting the American cause. Note, the later name King of Prussia Inn was only documented in 1786, 8-9 years after the encampment at Valley Forge. It's not clear that the name wasn't in honor of the King. Now I have courageously disputed the truth of these historical markers and suggested that it's about time that the locals give credit where credit is due; that is to Herr von Steuben.
I think the markers should be removed because they're inaccurate. Changing the name of the town, though, will force an address change on all the residents, not to mention cartographers, that would probably be more trouble than it's worth.
 
zoobyshoe said:
I think the markers should be removed because they're inaccurate. Changing the name of the town, though, will force an address change on all the residents, not to mention cartographers, that would probably be more trouble than it's worth.

Well, it's not like anyone in King of Prussia is going to get too excited about this thread anyway, as long as people keep shopping there. When you live in a place with a name like that, you probably don't care because you think everyone else is just jealous. Even Russ goes there once a year.

BTW Fredericksburg,Texas has the best German food west of the Hohenzollern Castle imo. They do it barbeque style.
 
Of course, there's already a Steubenville in Ohio. My high school football team used to play against Steubenville High. We had a banner with a cartoon of football players in a cooking-pot, and the slogan "Stew Steubenville!" :biggrin:
 
jtbell said:
Of course, there's already a Steubenville in Ohio. My high school football team used to play against Steubenville High. We had a banner with a cartoon of football players in a cooking-pot, and the slogan "Stew Steubenville!" :biggrin:

Now that wouldn't work if they named the town (and school) "King of Prussia", would it? Steubenville, Ohio took its name from a nearby fort which was named after the good "baron" according to the Wiki article on the town. If they can do it in Ohio, why can't they do it in Pennsylvania, right next to Valley Forge? I think they must be Tories plotting to bring back the monarchy. The question is, which monarchy?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Friedrich,_Prince_of_Prussia
 
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