Hazardous Tales #8: Lafayette!: Revolutionary War Tale

Gilbert du Motier became the Marquis de Lafayette at a young age, but he was not satisfied with the comforts of French nobility. He wanted adventure! A major general by nineteen, he was eager to prove himself in battle. When he heard about the revolution going on in America, he went overseas.

He fought with George Washington and Alexander Hamilton in America’s war for independence. Passionate about the American cause—and endearing—Lafayette was accepted into the Continental Army when other French officers were not because of his willingness to learn (and because his wealth meant that he didn’t require a salary). General Washington took him under his wing, and Lafayette’s loyalty to the commander-in-chief even saved Washington from a plot to remove him from command.

Lafayette would become a legend on both sides of the Atlantic and a symbol of the enduring friendship between America and France.