A native of Mercer, Pennsylvania, Samuel Waugh was living in Toronto, Canada, as early as 1833. There with his brother John, a sign painter, he operated the Theatre Royal, featuring panoramas, dances, recitations and other forms of entertainment. In 1834 he exhibited portraits and copies of landscapes of the first and only exhibition of the Society of Artists and Amateurs of Toronto. Although he was probably self-taught, his early skills as a portraitist were recognized by at least one local critic who deemed one of his works as ranking "among the very best Portraits in the Exhibition". In December of that same year, Waugh announced his intention of accompanying his fellow artist and countryman James Bowman (1793-1842), also Toronto-based, to Rome in the spring of 1835; however he instead moved on to Montreal, where he was active as a portraitist until the end of 1835.
Waugh appears to have arrived in Italy late in 1836 or early in 1837. A writer for the Knickerbocker reported in June of 1842 that he had just returned from Italy after spending the "last five years in the study of his art." According to the memoirs of James Freeman, NA (1808-84), Waugh developed a strong following for his portraits while abroad, especially among the English residents of Rome and Naples. From this period was his portrait of Bertel Thorwaldsen, one of his major commissions now in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Returning to Pennsylvania late in 1841 or early in 1842, Waugh established himself in Philadelphia as a painter of portraits and landscapes. He became a frequent contributor to exhibitions at the Pennsylvania Academy, as well as the Washington (D.C) Art Association and the American Art Union (ABG: can't read your note in margin). He also produced a panorama of Italy that was exhibited in Philadelphia in 1849 to much critical acclaim. It continued to be on display there until at least 1855. A second panorama, Italia, was also shown in Philadelphia from 1854 to 1858.
Waugh spent the major portion of his career in Philadelphia. However he did spend time in New York City for a period within 1844 to 1845 and passed several summers in Bordentown, New Jersey. His affiliation with the Toronto Society of Arts (1847-48), where he was an Honorary Member, suggests additional visits to Canada West.
Waugh's status as an Associate of the National Academy was declared "null and void" in 1847, a result of the belated discovery that he was not a resident of New York City at the time of his election. He was immediately elected an Honorary Member, apparently an extension by courtesy of the Academy regulation applying to full Academicians when they moved from the city precincts.
Samuel Waugh died in Janesville, Wisconsin on the 28th of September 1885, while visiting his sister. Among the various tributes accorded him, that of the National Academy named him one of its "earlier and highly respected members," and described him as a man of energetic character and of an ardent, genial temper. He excelled in portraiture, and in romantic subjects allied to the portrait[ure], in which his pencil was vigorous, his coloring rich and attractive.