Gilbert C. Stuart was born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, on 3 December 1755. His father, Gilbert Stuart, was a Scottish immigrant who owned the first snuff mill in America in Narragansett, Rhode Island. His mother was Elizabeth Anthony Stewart who was born into a prominent family in Middletown, Rhode Island.

Stuart’s artistic talent was apparent at an early age. In 1770 he was introduced to and influenced by the Scottish portrait artist Cosmo Alexander. Alexander, who was visiting Rhode Island, recognized the young Stuart’s talent. Stuart accompanied Alexander to Scotland in 1771 in order to study with him. However, Alexander died in 1772 and Stuart returned to Rhode Island in 1773.

By 1775 Stuart had moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was admitted to the Scots’ Charitable Society on 14 February 1775. He did not remain in Boston very long, sailing to England later the same year. He spent the next eighteen years in England and Ireland before returning to New York in 1793, and then living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was during this time that he painted three of his famous portraits of President George Washington. 

In 1805 he returned to Boston/Roxbury and lived on Devonshire Street until his death on 9 July 1828. He had suffered a stroke in 1824 and his health had been declining until his death. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the Old South Burial Ground.

References:

Anthony, Charles L. Genealogy of the Anthony family from 1495 to 1904 traced from William Anthony, Cologne, Germany, to London, England, John Anthony, a descendant, from England to America. Charles L. Anthony, Springfield, IL, 1904. Available online at:  https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofantho00anth/genealogyofantho00anth_djvu.txt

Gilbert-Stuart.org/biography.html

See also: Gilbert Stuart, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Stuart, for additional references.