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Birthday Date
Marquis de Lafayette was born in Auvergne, France. Born to a noble family who has many generations of soldiers from famous battles. -
Fahters Death
His father died when during the Seven Year War, while fighting for the King in Minden, Germany. -
Mother Leaves
After his father died his mother moved to Paris and left Marquis with his grandmother. His grandmother’s generosity and fair minded treatment to her servants formed some of Lafayette’s character. -
Mother Dies
Madame de Lafayette, Marquis's mother dies at the age of 30. -
Joins Army
Lafayette enters the Royal Army in France. -
Grandfather Dies
Lafayette’s grandfather dies and Marquis inherits a great fortune including estates, investments, and farms. He becomes one of the wealthiest people at 13. -
Attends Military Academy at Versailles
Lafayette is accepted to the Kings Musketeers and begins attend the Military Academy at Versailles. -
Noailles Regiment
He becomes a Brevet Lieutenant in the Boailles Regiment because of his future father in law. -
Marries
Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette marries Adrienne de Noailles. She is a descendent from a wealthy family also -
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The American Revolution
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Learning about the Revolution
Marquis de Lafayette meets with Duke of Gloucester who was the brother of King George. Here Lafayette learned about the colonist up rise over taxes. He also learns about General George Washington, The Battle of Lexington, and the victory for taking Fort Ticonderoga. Lafayette decides to join the Americans and help them fight. -
Lafayette arrives in South Carolina
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Becoming a General
Marquis arrives in Philadelphia where he becomes a Major General. He meets General George Washington in the City Tavern and they become very good friends. -
Baptism of Fire
He is wounded by a bullet being shot through his leg. -
Successful Attack
He was sent by a General to observe Cornwallis in New Jersey. He attacked although he was outnumbered and was able to defeat Hessians. -
March into Valley Forge
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Iroquois Support
Lafayette gets help form the Iroquois to help the Americans. He was able to recruit 50 Oneidas. -
Scouting the British
Marches to Barren Hill from Valley Forge with 2200 troops to scout the British in Philadelphia. -
Escape
Escapes from 16,000 British controlled troops. -
Return to France
Returns to France to get help from the French government for Washington who is in desperate need of supplies and troops. -
Conferences
Argues with Vergennes and Maurepas for aid for George Washington. -
Death of a Friend
French soldiers try to take Savannah from the British but failed and a good friend of Lafayette’s, the Count Casmir Pulaski, died. -
First Child
Lafayette has his first child who is name George Washington Lafayette after his good friend General George Washington. -
Help Needed Faster
Lafayette tried to speed up Washington’s help by explaining the dangers if the British were to win and the conditions of Washington’s army. The King agrees to speed up. -
Formal Send-Off
Dressed in his American General uniform Lafayette is formally sent-off by the Kind and Queen of France. -
Help for America
King Louis gives Lafayette a message for General Washington. He says to explain that 6,000 elite troops, artillery pieces, ammunition, ships, and money were coming. Later Washington credited Marquis de Lafayette for the help of the French. -
Sail for America
Lafayette sets sail for America. -
Lands in America
Lafayette lands in America at the Boston Harbor where he is greeted as a hero. -
Recognized
He is honored by Congress as gallant a meritorious. -
Stop Cornwallis
Lafayette is instructed by George Washington to help Nathanael Greene to stop Cornwallis destruction of Virginia. He succeeds and saves Virginia. -
Retreat to Yorktown
Lafayette makes Cornwallis evacuate and retreat to Yorktown. He is trying to corner the troops, but is then forced to wait for George Washington until his troops arrive. -
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Cornering Cornwallis
Lafayette successfully corners Cornwallis and his troops at Yorktown. -
Recognization of Power
Washington recognizes and appreciates Lafayette’s control over American troops. -
Independence for America
Cornwallis surrenders and Independence is won for America. -
Return to France
Leaves on the Alliance to go back to France. -
Celerbrated
Lafayette is celebrated by being given a formal reception by the King of France and Queen Marie Antoinette. He is recognized as a "Hero of 2 Worlds". He was promoted to Marechal De Camp or the Major General is France. -
Second Child
Adrienne, Lafayette’s wife, gives birth to Virginie, named after the State of Virginia. -
Le Chavalier de Saint James
Lafayette was given the medal Le Chavalier de Saint James. A very prestigious and important achievement from serving in the American Continental Army. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is signed and America is free. -
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Estate General
He is elected to Estate General in Paris. Lafayette is very outspoken about religious freedom and the abolishment of slavery. He was a leader of liberal aristocrats. -
Honorary Doctor of Law
Received an honorary doctor of law degree from both the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. -
Becomes a Citzen
Marquis becomes an honorary American Citizens in Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. -
Changing the Government
Lafayette wants to change the Estates General to a National Assembly and uses his experience and knowledge of the American Constitution to re-form the system of justice. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man the Citizen
Is the first Frenchman to talk about his idea and version of the Declaration of the Rights of Man the Citizen in the National Assembly in Paris. -
Elected VP of L'Assemble in Paris
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Beginning of the French Revolution
The beginning of the French revolution. Lafayette order soldiers to storm Bastille. After he send the key to George Washington as a gift. This act marks the begging in of the end of the injustice government in France. -
Receives a Doctor of Law from Princeton University
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Demand for Arrest
Lafayette and all other aristocrats are being demanded for arrest, tried for treason and executed. -
Capture of Lafayette
To escape persecution he flees to Belgium where he is caught and given to Austria and held as a prisoner. Lafayette tries to argue that he is an American citizen but he is ignored. -
Adrienne is Arrested
Adrienne de Lafayette, Marquis de Lafayette's wife, is arrested at Chateau Chavaniac by police and stays there indefinitely. -
Olmutz Prisoner
He is a prisoner at the Olmutz Prison. -
Adrienne is Saved
Adrienne is not executed at the prison because of Gouverneur Morris, the wife of James Monroe, and other Americans because of the pressure the y put on officers and the government. -
George Washington Lafayette is sent to America
George Washington Lafayette is sent to stay with George Washington in America until everything settles down. -
Joining Lafayette
Adrienne and her 2 daughters arrive at the prison Lafayette is at because they asked to join him. The conditions are very poor in the cell but Lafayette is overrun with emotions because they wanted to come and stay with him. -
Lafayette Goes Free
Thanks to America and their help Lafayette and his family go free. -
Return of the Family
The whole family gets to be together again because George Washington Lafayette comes back from America to France. -
Adrienne Dies
Adrienne de Noallises dies at the age of 47. -
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Chamber of Deputies
Supports liberal polices for the ordinary person in the Chamber of Deputies. -
Honored in America
Lafayette is invited to the US as an honored guest by President James Monroe. -
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Visiting Philadelphia
He gives a memorable speech in Philadelphia that will never be forgotten. -
Overthrowing the King
Commands the National Guard the helps overthrow the King. -
Polish Revolution
Supports the Polish revolution by giving speeches in the Chamber of Deputies, giving financial support, and becoming a founder of the Polish Committee. -
Help for Poland
Lafayette tried to get French government support to help with Poland. -
Death Date
Marquis de Lafayette dies in Paris 4 months before his 77th birthday. -
Lafayette is Buried
Marquis de Lafayette is buried next to his wife in Paris. George Washington Lafayette scattered American soil on his grave so he had his wish to be buried in American soil. An American flag is flown at his grave for scarifies that he made for America.