Happy Lafayette Day: Celebrating a Forgotten American Patriot from the War for Independence

Allison Bricker

THE REGION, INDIANA – Although not an “official” Federal nor state holiday in my home in Indiana; let us disregard such governmental formalities and please join me in celebrating “Lafayette Day”.

For the uninitiated or perhaps anyone not an American history nerd, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette was a French military officer born on September 6th, 1757. Upon hearing of the American War for Independence against Britain he wrote:

“When I first learned of that quarrel, my heart was enlisted and I thought only of joining the colors.”

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Memoirs
1779

Shortly after his arrival in America, the Continental Congress commissioned upon him the rank of Major General. During his time on the battlefield against the British, he displayed bravery, cunning, and an unshakable loyalty to the American cause. He went on to win major battles at both Gloucester and Monmouth. In addition to his tactical skill on the battlefield, Lafayette successfully lobbied Louis the XVI for additional French troops and for full support of the French Naval fleet in the form of five additional frigates.

Upon his return to America, he successfully trapped British General Cornwallis between his troops and the York River, thanks to the timely arrival of the French Naval fleet. Lafayette and General Washington knowing that General Cornwallis and his men were low on supplies due to the naval blockade launched what would become known as “The Siege at Yorktown”. The siege succeeded, resulting in the surrender of the British by General Cornwallis to General Washington; effectively ending the American War for Independence.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette’s wife, Adrienne gave birth the to the couple’s only son, Georges Washington de La Fayette, who they named in honor of George Washington.

After the successful siege at Yorktown, Lafayette returned to France where he went on to work with Thomas Jefferson to normalize trade relations and debt reconciliation. He then returned to America in 1782 where he and his heirs were awarded honorary natural-born citizenship in several states and the nation as a whole upon ratification of the U.S. Constitution. During his time spent in America after the War for Independence, he visited all of the several states except for Georgia. During his travels around the newly independent nation, he gave impassioned speeches on the inherent natural liberties of mankind and pushed vehemently for the abolition of slavery.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette passed away on the 20th of May 1834 at the age of 77.

Source(s): The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson by: William Howard Adams • “The Marquis de La Fayette in the American revolution: With some Account of the Attitude of France Toward the War for Independence” – Volume 1, By Charlemagne Tower published: J.B. Lippincott Company (1895)