Marquis de Lafayette
When a person considers important historical revolutions, the French Revolution is undoubtedly one of the first that comes to mind. After that (especially if said person is from the US), the American Revolution probably pops up (or maybe the Russian Revolution if he or she is European). The French and American revolutions happened almost at the exact same time chronologically, with only eight years of separation. One person who was involved in both revolutions and who was critical in both is Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Luckily for history students he is often simply referred to as Lafayette.
Born in the September of 1757 to a wealthy aristocratic French family, Lafayette had to suffer the death of his father, mother, and grandparents all before twelve. This left him a tremendous fortune, and at sixteen he married into another very wealthy French family. At a very early age Lafayette was an active proponent of democracy and liberty, and by nineteen he had travelled to America and become a military leader (a reflection of his wealth and status as apposed to experience).
During the ensuing year Lafayette fought in the Battle of Brandywine and camped with George Washington at Valley Forge. In 1777 he was selected by the Board of War to lead an expedition into Canada and Lafayette reluctantly rode north. His expedition began falling apart however and was a logistical mess. A year later he fought very successfully at the battle of Monmouth. This battle was a near failure for the Americans but Lafayette arguably saved the battle with his military prowess. He spent 1779 back in France but his zeal forced him to return to America in 1780. 1781 brought with it the successes of Yorktown and the defeat of Cornwallis. Though not a complete end to the war, the victory greatly changed peoples views. He returned again to France in 1781 and visited America on request by George Washington in 1784.
1789 was the start of the peoples revolution in France. It is believed that during a mob attack it was his charisma and popularity that saved the monarchy, though at the end the revolution, even he could not control the wraths of the guillotine. Being a nobility and a firm believer in democracy and liberty, he tread a fine line during the revolution. For example, he was the representative of the nobility during the Estates General but he also wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. After the beheading of the king, disaster struck. Lafayette, who was attempting to escape to America through Austria, was taken prisoner. For five years he was held captive, without Washington able to free him. In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte (now a powerful general) was able to organize his release. Due to unstable relations between the USA and France Lafayette was unable to return to America until after Napoleons rule (which he politely refused to be involved with as it went against his democratic ideals).
After the chaos of the French Revolution (during Napoleons dictatorship) Lafayette enjoyed a retreat from politics. However, after his defeat at Waterloo Lafayette argued for Napoleons abdication, saying that "the nation has followed him in fifty battles, in his defeats and in his victories, and in doing so we have to mourn the blood of three million Frenchmen". He remained mostly politically inactive during most of the bourbon restoration. In that time however he did support the Greek Revolution of 1821 (along with George Washington who at this time also lived in France) and under invitation from Congress, he went on a grand one-year tour of the United States which he had been instrumental in creating. His arrival in the US was greatly celebrated and he was honored for his personal sacrifices in the war. On his trip he met Pr. Monroe, Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison.
Lafayette was politically roused again during the July Revolution of 1830 in France. He debated vehemently against the unrepresentative rule of Charles X (who had also been a student in his school) and held dinners at his house in which he spoke for democracy and social liberty. Later he was acclaimed as the leader of the July Revolution for rushing into Paris and organizing the Parisian protestors. After the overthrow/abdication of Charles X, Lafayette had the opportunity to be proclaimed ruler but he refused as he deemed such position unconstitutional. Instead he selected the next monarch. Louis-Philipe.
He spent his final years in opposition to Louis-Philipe, whom he believed had backtracked on the reforms he had once promised to make. At the age of 76 he contracted Pneumonia and died. Louis-Philipe ordered a military funeral so that the public would be unable to attend. In the US there was a period of mourning that lasted a month and Pr. John Quincy Adams described him as ""high on the list of the pure and disinterested benefactors of mankind". His importance to history is rarely doubted and even today he is an American icon of liberty.
1789 was the start of the peoples revolution in France. It is believed that during a mob attack it was his charisma and popularity that saved the monarchy, though at the end the revolution, even he could not control the wraths of the guillotine. Being a nobility and a firm believer in democracy and liberty, he tread a fine line during the revolution. For example, he was the representative of the nobility during the Estates General but he also wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. After the beheading of the king, disaster struck. Lafayette, who was attempting to escape to America through Austria, was taken prisoner. For five years he was held captive, without Washington able to free him. In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte (now a powerful general) was able to organize his release. Due to unstable relations between the USA and France Lafayette was unable to return to America until after Napoleons rule (which he politely refused to be involved with as it went against his democratic ideals).
After the chaos of the French Revolution (during Napoleons dictatorship) Lafayette enjoyed a retreat from politics. However, after his defeat at Waterloo Lafayette argued for Napoleons abdication, saying that "the nation has followed him in fifty battles, in his defeats and in his victories, and in doing so we have to mourn the blood of three million Frenchmen". He remained mostly politically inactive during most of the bourbon restoration. In that time however he did support the Greek Revolution of 1821 (along with George Washington who at this time also lived in France) and under invitation from Congress, he went on a grand one-year tour of the United States which he had been instrumental in creating. His arrival in the US was greatly celebrated and he was honored for his personal sacrifices in the war. On his trip he met Pr. Monroe, Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison.
Lafayette was politically roused again during the July Revolution of 1830 in France. He debated vehemently against the unrepresentative rule of Charles X (who had also been a student in his school) and held dinners at his house in which he spoke for democracy and social liberty. Later he was acclaimed as the leader of the July Revolution for rushing into Paris and organizing the Parisian protestors. After the overthrow/abdication of Charles X, Lafayette had the opportunity to be proclaimed ruler but he refused as he deemed such position unconstitutional. Instead he selected the next monarch. Louis-Philipe.
He spent his final years in opposition to Louis-Philipe, whom he believed had backtracked on the reforms he had once promised to make. At the age of 76 he contracted Pneumonia and died. Louis-Philipe ordered a military funeral so that the public would be unable to attend. In the US there was a period of mourning that lasted a month and Pr. John Quincy Adams described him as ""high on the list of the pure and disinterested benefactors of mankind". His importance to history is rarely doubted and even today he is an American icon of liberty.
Before the musical Hamilton came out I had never heard of Lafayette and I hadn't realized what a big role he and the french played in helping the colonists win their independence. Lafayette was not the only foreigner who played an important role in helping win the battle of Yorktown and gain independence, so did Hamilton. I think it very interesting that the foreigners who played important roles in our country's fight for independence aren't better recognized.
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