10 Interesting Facts about Marquis de Lafayette

These following facts about Marquis de Lafayette will probably expand your knowledge about how great he was during his life. Marquis de Lafayette, was a French was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France. He was a general in the American Revolutionary War and a sleader of the Garde nationale during the French Revolution. He was also one of the strongest figure in French Revolution. To get to know more about him, here are some other facts about Marquis de Lafayette you may consider interesting.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 1: Joining the American War

In 1775, Lafayette took part in his unit’s annual training in Metz, where he met Charles-Francois de Broglie, Marquis de Ruffec, the Army of the East’s commander. When he first learned of that quarrel, he wrote, “My heart was enlisted and I thought only of joining the colors”.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 2: American Revolution

On arrival, Lafayette met Major Benjamin Huger, with whom he stayed two weeks before going to Philadelphia. The Continental Congress delayed Lafayette’s commission, as they had tired of “French glory seekers”.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 3: Battle of Brandywine

Lafayette’s first battle was at Brandywine on 11 September 1777. After the British outflanked the Americans, Washington sent Lafayette to join General John Sullivan. Upon his arrival, Lafayette went with the Third Pennsylvania Brigade, under Brigadier Thomas Conway, and attempted to rally the unit to face the attack.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 4: Return to France

In February 1779, Lafayette returned to Paris. For disobeying the king by going to America, he was placed under house arrest for eight days. Nevertheless, his return was triumphant.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 5: Later Life

Lafayette was unwilling to cooperate with Napoleon’s government. In 1804, Napoleon was crowned Emperor after a plebiscite in which Lafayette did not participate. He remained relatively quiet, although he spoke publicly on Bastille Day events

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 6: The Hundred Days

Lafayette was elected to the Chamber of Representatives under the Charter of 1815, during the Hundred Days, which called for Napoleon to abdicate after Waterloo. Lucien Bonaparte came before the assembly to denounce abdication.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 7: Death

Lafayette spoke for the last time in the Chamber of Deputies on 3 January 1834. The winter was wet and cold, and the next month he collapsed at a funeral from pnemonia. Although he recovered, the following May was wet and, after a thunderstorm, he became sick and bedridden

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 8: Lafayette’s Reputation

Lafayette’s reputation in America has always stood very high, both in the popular mind and in scholarship. The scholarly view is dominated by the work of Louis R. Gottschalk in a six volume biography (published 1935-1973) that carried Lafayette’s life to 1790.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 9: Honors

American President Andrew Jackson ordered that Lafayette be accorded the same funeral honors as John Adams and George Washington. Therefore, 24-gun salutes were fired from military posts and ships, each shot representing a U.S. state.

Facts about Marquis de Lafayette 10: Conflict

Lafayette returned to his home province of Auvergne following the loss of the mayoral election. France declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792, and preparations to invade the Belgium, were begun; Lafayette received command of one of the three armies, at Metz.

Those following facts about Marquis de Lafayette will probably expand your knowledge about how great his life was. He was really important to American Revolutionary War and French itself. Hope you would find those Marquis de Lafayette facts interesting and useful.