American Minute - Marquis de Lafayette

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Born SEPTEMBER 6, 1757, his father died before he was two-years-old and his mother died when he was twelve, leaving him to inherit their fortune.

At 14-years-old, he joined the French Military and, at age 16, became a captain.

He married Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles, whose family was related to King Louis XVI.

At 19, against the King's wishes, he purchased a ship and persuaded several French officers to accompany him to fight in the American Revolution.

Washington appointed him a major general.

His name was Marquis de Lafayette.

Lafayette fought at Brandywine, endured the freezing winter at Valley Forge, saw action at Barren Hill and Rhode Island.

Lafayette returned to France and, along with Franklin's efforts, secured troops and supplies for the American cause which helped force Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown.

Nearly fifty years later, after having lived through the French Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette was guest at a ceremony at Bunker Hill, Massachusetts, along with 200 Revolutionary Veterans.

Secretary of State Daniel Webster spoke:

"God...has allowed you to behold the reward of your patriotic toils; and He has allowed to us...in the name of the present generation...in the name of liberty to thank you!"

American Minute - Jun. 13 - Marquis de Lafayette

American Minute
with Bill Federer

19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette purchased a ship and sailed to America, arriving JUNE 13, 1777.

Trained in the French Military, he was appointed a major general.

Lafayette endured the freezing winter at Valley Forge, and fought at Brandywine, Barren Hill and Monmouth.

Lafayette led troops against the traitor Benedict Arnold and commanded at Yorktown, pressuring Cornwallis to surrender.

On May 10, 1786, George Washington wrote from Mount Vernon to Marquis de Lafayette:

"Your late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with a view of emancipating the slaves on it, is a generous and noble proof of your humanity.

Would to God a like spirit would diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country."

On August 15, 1787, in a letter from Philadelphia to the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington wrote:

"I am not less ardent in my wish that you may succeed in your plan of toleration in religious matters.

Being no bigot myself to any mode of worship, I am disposed to indulge the professors of Christianity in the church with that road to Heaven which to them shall seem the most direct, plainest and easiest, and the least liable to exception.