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La Fayette Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de
(1757—1834)

The Lafayette [La Fayette] family was of ancient nobility, an ancestor served as a marshal of France under Charles VII in the Hundred Years' War. Gilbert du Motier was only two years old when his father had been killed in the Seven Years' War. At sixteen, he inherited his title and a large fortune from his grandfather.
Lafayette was a junior officer in the French army when in 1777, he defied his family and the orders of the King Louis XVI, and sailed to the American colonies. He volunteered to serve in the American army at his own expense, and at age 20, received the rank of Major General from Congress. His date of rank was 7 December 1776, when he signed up with the American representative in Paris. [This appears to make the marquis the youngest commissioned regular general officer in the US Army.] Lafayette served in the battle of Brandywine (11 Sep 77, where he was wounded). In November of 1777, he led his first independent command of a small reconnaissance force at Gloucester, NJ, and got the better of a skirmish against some Hessians. He had a command at White Marsh (5-8 Dec 77). During this period, George Washington took a strong, personal liking to the young Frenchman, who in turn held the American commander in high admiration.
In December 1777, Lafayette received command of Virginia light infantry. He began the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, but was sent to Albany, NY, to prepare for an invasion of Canada. The invasion was canceled and he returned to Valley forge, where he again succeeded in a small operation at Barren Hill (May 78). Lafayette performed with distinction at the battle of Monmouth (28 Jun 78). He commanded two brigades near Newport, RI, (Jul-Aug 78) in the failed, first Franco-American allied operation of the war.
In January 1779, Lafayette returned to France, where he successfully persuaded the French to commit more military aid and to send a military expedition to North America. He returned to the US in April 1780, before the arrival of Rochambeau's military expedition in July. Washington sent Lafayette, in command of American troops, to Virginia to counter Benedict Arnold. The young Marquis ended up facing off against the much larger force of Cornwallis. In this Virginia Campaign of April-August 1781, Lafayette proved to be a good strategist in avoiding defeat while harassing his formidable opponent to withdraw to Yorktown for reinforcements. [See link to 'Lafayette's Virginia Campaign' webpage at end of this page.] Lafayette commanded his American brigade at the siege of Yorktown (September 1781), and returned to France in December 1781.

When he returned to France in 1781, Lafayette was famous -- 'a hero of two worlds'. He received many honors, was made commander of the Paris National Guard (1781-91), and became active in politics in France. In late 1784, he returned briefly to the United States to visit George Washington at Mount Vernon. The 20th century painting below [in a private collection] depicts this only time Lafayette visited Mount Vernon when Washington was also present. It was also their last time together.

Returning to France, Lafayette tried, but was unable to influence a more moderate course in the French revolution. When France was attacked by the European coalition, Lafayette was given command of the French Revolution Army of the Center in 1792. As with other noblemen who still served the Revolution, Lafayette had cause to fear the Jacobin factions that had taken control of French politics, and he fled to Belgium. However, the Austrians considered Lafayette a cause of the anti-monarchial revolt in France and imprisoned him (one year at Magdeburg, and four years at Olmutz). He was freed by Napoleon in September 1797. While he acknowledged Bonaparte's position, Lafayette declined to accept any role in the Emperor's regime and refused the Legion d'Honor.
After Napoleon, Lafayette remained active, but continuously lost influence in French politics. For a time he was an elected member of the Chamber of Deputies. However, his political philosophy was too simplistic for the complexities that faced France. He was not destined to contribute as much to France as he did to the United States in those nations' respective quests for political freedom. His significant legacy has been as a symbol for a tradition of continuing French and American alliances.
Lafayette continued to maintain strong ties with his associates of the American Revolution. He made an extensive visit to the United States in 1824-25. He returned to France with barrels of American soil, which was placed around his casket. He and his wife, Adrienne de Noailles, are buried in Le Jardin de Picpus cemetery, Paris. Since after World War I, an American flag has been at his grave site. It remained there, undisturbed, during the German occupation in World War II.

Aitutaki, 1976, Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown

Barbuda, 1976, Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown

Cameroon, 1975, Marquis de Lafayette and Naval Battle

Chad, 1976, Lafayette offering his services to America

Chad, 1976, Rochambeau

Chad, 1977, Lafayette and French ships. 1777

Comoren Islands, 1976, Washington and Lafayette

Comoren Islands, 1989, Lafayette, Mounier and Sieyes

Cote d’Ivoire, 1976, Marquis de Lafaiette

France, 1927, Lafayette and Washington

France, 1989, Marquis de Lafayette

German Federal Republic, 1994, Steuben, Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown