In the spirit of the Fourth of July week - as Americans celebrate their founding - I thought I’d write about one of the great heroes of the Revolutionary War, a man who was not even an American, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.
We’ve all heard of the heroes of American history. George Washington, the first president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson, widely regarded as the intellectual founding father, or Benjamin Franklin, writer, scientist, and the greatest Diplomat of his age.
But one hero is often forgotten, yet, at the time, was no less significant. Marquis De Lafayette, unlike the others, was known as "a hero of two worlds".
Lafayette was born on the 6th of September, 1757, in Chavaniac-Lafayette, France, to his parents Michelle de Motier Marquis de Lafayette and Marie Louise Jolie de La Rivière. He was raised in the lap of luxury, in a period when France had great wealth. Yet, France would soon face its own political turmoil; the French Revolution of 1789 would be a devastating time for France. However, before that, Lafayette would help give birth to another Nation on the other side of the Atlantic.
North America had been colonized by the English in the early 1600s. The British Empire used these lands for untold resources. As the American colony grew richer, the British increased taxes, and the people of America started to resent their mother country. In the year 1773, the people of America rebelled against their British overlords with catastrophic results. Founding Father Patrick Henry stated, “I know not I know not what course others may take, but as for me, Give me liberty or give me death”.
Over the seven year war, it is estimated that 6,800 Americans and over 24,000 British died. But at the end of it all, a nation would emerge that would change the course of modern history. The United States of America.
Lafayette cared deeply for justice and defied many of his loved ones, even his own King, to fight for freedom in America. Lafayette said, “The moment I knew she was fighting for freedom I burned with desire of bleeding for her.” He had great values and pleased everyone he met with his charming and respectful manner. Lafayette provided supplies and aid, including money, uniforms, food, and weapons. This greatly encouraged soldiers, despite the hard conditions they lived through during the American Revolution. It also provided practical support to an army that was not nearly as well prepared as the British army. In addition to these supplies, he also brought recruits from France who were willing to fight with America. Lafayette also is part of the reason that France eventually signed a Treaty with America to become official allies and help each other fight their battles.
Lafayette demonstrated great leadership in many battles and he encouraged France to feel confident to support the revolutionary cause. As one French military officer, Johann Baron de Kalb, said about him “We were animated by the same Spirit. The enthusiasm of Lafayette would have incited all the rest of us if anyone had been less courageous than he.” Perhaps his most important act of leadership was commanding the Yorktown campaign. Lafayette was put in charge of the Continental forces in Virginia in 1781. He achieved a stunning victory alongside George Washington.
Lafayette was widely reported to be a humane person, despite his privileged background (his numerous names and titles indicate his elite status). These two things made a significant contribution to his influence in America. On the one hand, he was first recruited because of his wealth and status. However, it was his willingness to associate with all kinds of Americans that won the trust and affection of the people he mixed with and commanded; he even sought to build relationships between the Revolutionary forces and the Indians. The Indians were charmed by him and were delighted that he used some of their war strategies to great effect.
However little Gilbert de motier marquis de Lafayette might be remembered in today's retellings of American History, there could be no doubt that his impact on the birth of the United States of America is equal to that of many better known names. “A son of France, a friend of America”, Lafayette was rightly known as the “hero of two worlds.”
Cites:
https://www.overdrive.com/media/4949771/marquis-de-lafayette-and-the-french https://www2.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2012_spring/feature1.html
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