Archibald MacNeal Willard (August 22, 1836 – October 11, 1918) was an American painter who was born and raised in Bedford, Ohio.

He began as a basic wagon painter, but eventually was allowed to paint elaborate decorations that were popular at the time.

[3] Willard painted The Spirit of '76 about 1875 in Wellington, Ohio after he saw a holiday parade pass through the town square.

Willard's most famous work is The Spirit of '76, previously known as Yankee Doodle, which was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1876.

Common myths claim that people were so inspired by it that Willard was invited to show his painting and that even then president Grant gave his praise.

The success of the painting was largely due to Ryder's marketing of the chromolithographs, sold first at five dollars a piece and for less as the exhibition progressed.

His prominence as an artist would only return briefly in 1895 when The Spirit of '76 and possibly another work by Willard's involving the same subjects marching into Havana were being advertised for the Spanish–American War.