Who would have thought that a teenage French aristocrat would play a pivotal role in America’s fight for liberty? Gilbert du Motier, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette, fought and was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine and played a crucial role in the Siege of Yorktown.
Early life and education
Lafayette was born in southern France with the hereditary title of Marquis to a wealthy family. When his father, a French military officer, died in the Seven Years’ War, his mother and grandmother raised him in the healthy, inspiring, frugal, and liberty-loving atmosphere of the Auvergne hills. The young Lafayette was tall, ungainly, and quiet, but beneath this outward appearance, he had an intelligent mind and a heart stirred by the high ideals of right and justice.
His military ambitions grew, and he wanted to prove himself in battle. At a dinner with the British Duke of Gloucester, he heard that “American colonists had revolutionary beliefs in the equality of mankind and the rights of people to rule themselves.” Later in life, Lafayette commented, “My heart was enlisted, and I thought only of joining my colors to those of the revolutionaries.”
The Battle of Brandywine
At the young age of 19, he joined General Washington at Brandywine Creek to help defend the young Continental Army against General Howe’s advance on Philadelphia. He served as a close aide to General George Washington with no pay and said, “I am here to learn, not to teach.” His humble attitude endeared him to the General. Lafayette proved himself on the battlefield with his selfless courage, running toward the battle, and standing his ground under fire. Washington found him wounded and bleeding, still trying to protect his comrades, and sent him to his own surgeon with instructions “to treat him as if he were my son.”
Hero of two worlds
Lafayette’s deep-rooted love for liberty led him to bring before the French National Assembly a “declaration of rights” modeled on America’s Declaration of Independence. Liberty was denied as a lawless revolution broke out. Lafayette was imprisoned but never abandoned his liberty-loving principles.
Teach the Children America’s Christian History: Family Time Talks
- How was Lafayette inspired to his life’s calling?
- What did General Washington admire about Lafayette?
- How did Lafayette prove himself in battle?
