Greene played an active role during the war, participating in battles, sieges, and campaigns from New England to the Southern Colonies.

Soon after the war concluded, the Congress of the Confederation passed a resolution to honor Greene with a memorial in the nation's capital.

Despite his family's religious beliefs against "book learning," Greene convinced his father to hire a tutor.

[5] Greene's father trained him to be a founder when his son wasn't learning classical education during the Age of Enlightenment.

[6] The Kingdom of Great Britain imposed heavy fines and taxes on the Thirteen Colonies after the French and Indian War.

After what the colonists nicknamed the Intolerable Acts, in 1774 Greene organized the Kentish Guards, consisting of Rhode Island militia.

[5] Before the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Greene was commissioned a brigadier general in the Continental Army and became a trusted adviser to George Washington.

[6] After the war concluded, many people considered Greene to have been the second-best general in the Continental Army, with the first being Washington.

[5][9] Soon after the Revolutionary War ended, the Congress of the Confederation passed a resolution to erect a memorial in the nation's capital honoring Greene.

In order to spur growth around the square and to honor a national hero, Congress authorized the erection of an equestrian statue of Greene on June 23, 1874.

[19] The statue, which was founded by Robert Wood & Company, was praised by critics, who noted the fine details of the horse and Greene.

[20][21] It is considered one of the best equestrian statues in Washington, D.C.[9][11][21] The surrounding park was improved over the next couple of years, with fencing, sidewalks, and trees added.

[11] In June 1930, what newspapers called a "freakish gust of wind," blew through Stanton Park, toppling the statue.

[20] The Greene statue is one of 14 American Revolution Statuary that were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 14, 1978.

In addition, the statue is a contributing property to the Capitol Hill Historic District, which was added to the DCIHS on June 19, 1973, followed by the NRHP a few years later on August 27, 1976.