JEAN PAUL ROM) YVES GILnERT MOTIER, Marquis de (1757-1834). A French general and states man, and one of 'Washington's most faithful offi cers during the American Revolution. He was de,cended from an ancient family of Auvergne, and was born September 6, 1757, in the Castle of Chavagnac, in the Department of Haute Loire. His father was killed at _Minden in 1759, and in 1770 his mother also died, leaving him in possession of large family estates. In 1774 Lafayette married. and in the same year entered the army. At the first news of the American Revolution, Lafayette was seized with enthu siasm for the cause of the colonists. Evading the vigilance of the Government officials, lie fitted out a ship, and, sailing from Pasages. in Spain. landed on April 24, 1777. at Georgetown. S. C., with eleven companions, among them Baron De Kalb. His arrival in America did much to give new hope to the supporters of the Revolutionary cause, whom the ill success of the preceding campairm had greatly discouraged. On July 31, 1777, Congress bestowed on him the rank of major-general, and he was soon after attached to the staff of General Washington, who speedily tame to regard the young vol unteer with the deepest affection and esteem. In the battle of Brandywine! (September 11, 1777), lie was wounded while rallying the American troops. In December he was ap pointed to the command of an army destined tor the invasion of Canada, but the expedition was abandoned for lack of resources, and La fayette rejoined General Washington at Valley Forge in April, 177S. On the night. of May 19th lee was surprised by General Grant with a force of 5000 men, more than twice his own, at Bar fen Hill, some twelve miles front Valley Forge, hut effected his retreat, with the utmost skill. He fought brilliantly under Lee at Monmouth (June 2S), and in August commanded with Sullivan and Greene the land expedition dis patched to cooperate with the French fleet in an attack on Newport. On the breaking out of war between France and England. Lafayette sailed for his native country (January, 1779), and it was largely through his exertions that the King dispatched a land force as well as a fleet to the aid of the Americans. In May Lafayette was back in service, and was stationed with a corps of observation on the Hudson. He was a member of the court-martial that condemned Major Andre to death. In February, 1781, he was sent with 1200 New England troops to operate against Benedict Arnold in Virginia, and later, when the British strength in Virginia was increased by the arrival of Cornwallis at Peters burg with 5000 troops (May 20th). Washington showed his confidence in Lafayette by continuing him in the command. On May 24th Cornwallis set out from Petersburg in pursuit of Lafayette, who was stationed near Richmond. "The boy can not escape me." said Cornwallk. The 'boy' re treated rapidly to the Rappahannock. effected a junction with 1000 Pennsylvanians under Wayne, and, reinforced by the militia from the moun tains, offered Cornwallis battle near Albemarle. Cornwallis retreated to Richmond, and then to Williamsburg. with Lafayette at the head of 4000 men in pursuit. On July tithe he came in touch with the British at Green Springs. hut the action was indecisive. and Cornwallis continued his retreat—to Yorktown. On the day after cornwallis's surrender, Lafayette was publicly thanked by Washington. In December. 17S1, he sailed from Boston for home. On a visit to North America in 17S4, after the conclusion of peace. he was received with tremendous enthu siasm.
Lafayette had imbibed liberal principles in America. and now eagerly sought to promote a thorough reform in his native country. He was called to the Assembly of Notables in 1757. and was one of those who most earnestly urged the calling of the States-General. Ile took part also in the movement which converted that body into the National Assembly in 1759. He took an active part in the proceedings of the Assembly. of which he was vice-president for time. On the day after the storming of the Bastille. he was made conunander-in-chief of the National Guard in Paris. He perfected the organization
of the National Guard throughout France. and brought about the adoption of the tricolor. On October 5th and tith. 17S9, he was forced to take part in the march on Versailles. whence the royal family were brought to live among their 'loving subjects' in Paris. In this first period of the Revolution it seemed as if Lafayette had the destinies of France in his hands. But the ex citement of the nation was beyond all possibility of control. The extreme republicans soon came to di-like him, because he advocated a constitu Gonal kingdom; and the Court party, especially the Queen, regarded him with equal aversion—in spite of the services he rendered them—because of hi, zeal for the new order of things. With BaiIly he founded, in 1;90, the Club of the Feuil hints (q.v.), representing the conservative ele ment in the Constituent Assembly, whose efforts were directed toward the establishment of a con stitutional monarchy. In November, 1791, he va, defeated for the office of Mayor of Paris by Petion, his failure being due to the opposition of the extreme republicans and to the treachery of the Court. He joined with the party of the Gironde in demanding war against Austria and Prussia, and on the outbreak of war received the command of the Army of Ardennes, with which lie won the first victories of Philippeville, Maubeu!!e. and Flo•ennes. Nevertheless, the calumnies of the Jacobins rendered his position a precarious one. He left his army to return to Park to protest against the excesses of the populace. but found his influence gone and his life in danger. He was accused of treason and acquitted. but soon after commissioners were dis patched to seize him at the head of his army Ile tied to Flanders and on August 19, 1792. was taken prisoner by the Austrian,, who confined him in the citadal of Ohniitz, and subjected him to the most cruel treatment. He remained in captivity till Bonaparte obtained his liberation in 1797. He returned to France in 1799, but took no part in public affairs during the ascendency of Napoleon. being opposed both to the Consulate and to the Empire. He sat in the French House of Representative: in 1S15 during the Hundred Day, and in the Chamber of Deputies from 1S18 to 1824. as one of the Extreme Left. From 1S25 to 1s30 he was a leader of the opposition. In 1S:10 lie took an active part in the Revolution of duly. and figured again as commander of the National Guard. His life was identified with the hi-tory of France for upward of forty years. and no stain is known to rest on the purity and disin terestedness of his public service. No private mi-fortunes or losses incident to the forfeiture of his great estate, by the Revolution of 1759 ever drew from him a revocation of his re publican principles, or a sign of regret for the sacrifices which he had made for them. His visit to the United States in LS24-25. on invita tion of Congress, was a memorable event. He was as a public honest in all part' of the country: his course was amid a universal tumult of honor and praise: and the nation thronged around him to testify with one voice its grad unie and love. Congress voted him a grant of 82000o and a township of land. Ile died in Park May 20. 1s:14. Lafayette's son. George Washington Lafacettei 17 79- S49 ). and his grand and their descendants tigure41 in French republican polities of the nineteenth century. At the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of Yorktown and the surrender of the British army, celebrated in a representative of the Lafay ette family was present as a national guest. Con sult lfi Corn Itee ct nunuiseri s du a! sego/ Lafayette. published by his family s vols., Paris, 1837-40) ; Bedollie)re, Vie poll Wine du marquis de Lafayette (Paris, 1833) ; Cloquet, Souvenirs de la vie prire'e du yt'nerul La fayette (Paris, 1836) ; Tucketman, Life of La fayette (New York, 1889) ; Doniel, Participation dc la France a l'etablissement des Etats-Unis (Paris, 1889) ; Tower, The Marquis de La Pay ette in the American Revolution (2 vols., Phila delphia, 1895).