The Marquis de Lafayette
America 250
We at Notgrass History are looking forward to celebrating next year on July 4, which is to be the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! The 250th anniversary of events leading up to the Declaration of Independence have already begun.
- Patrick Henry gave his “Give me liberty or give me death” at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775.
- Paul Revere made his famous ride after seeing lights in the belfry of the Old North Church in Boston on April 18, 1775. Our daughter Mary Evelyn, learned Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” while we were homeschooling. A couple of days before the 250th anniversary of his ride, Mary Evelyn performed the poem at the Putnam County Courthouse in Tennessee. The next day she recorded it for friends of Notgrass History. You can watch it here.
- The “shot heard round the world” was fired during the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
I plan to share other Revolutionary War anniversaries with you over the next several months.
Lafayette 200
After the American Revolution began, the Marquis de Lafayette, who was from a noble French family, learned about the American Revolution. In early 1777, at age nineteen, Lafayette purchased a ship, sailed to South Carolina, and made his way to Philadelphia to help the Americans. The Continental Congress commissioned this French volunteer a major general. He quickly distinguished himself as a leader in the Continental Army. He became a close aide to General Washington. When Lafayette was wounded in the Battle of Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania, Washington told doctors: “Treat him as if he were my son.” Washington and Lafayette’s close friendship lasted until Washington’s death. Lafayette named his son George Washington Louis Gilbert de Lafayette.
In 1824 the U.S. Congress and President James Monroe invited Lafayette to the United States for a three-month tour of the country. It turned into a 13-month visit with Lafayette visiting all 24 of the United States.
The Marquis de Lafayette by American artist Rembrandt Peale, 1825,
apparently painted from life during Lafayette’s tour
Cities that Lafayette visited during that tour are hosting a series of events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his tour of America. Ray and I are excited about participating in one of these events this coming Saturday, May 3, at Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage, near Nashville, TN. During his tour, Lafayette visited fellow Revolutionary War veteran and future president Andrew Jackson. The Hermitage is celebrating with special activities on May 3 and also with a Lafayette exhibit in its museum.
Lafayette also visited Nashville, where citizens held a banquet in his honor. Among the guests at the banquet was my ancestor Timothy Demonbreun, a French-Canadian who also fought in the Revolutionary War. Colonel Andrew Hynes, an aide and secretary to Andrew Jackson, toasted Timothy at the banquet.
Ray and I plan to be at a booth at the Hermitage on Saturday, as representatives of the Timothy Demonbreun Heritage Society. For several weeks, I have been painting a portrait of Timothy Demonbreun, which is to be part of our display at the TDHS booth. I have enjoyed this project very much. If you are in the area and can visit the Hermitage that day, please stop by the TDHS table and say hello!
The Tennessee State Museum also has a temporary exhibit about Lafayette’s visit to Tennessee and is hosting a separate event on May 4. The Nashville City Cemetery is hosting another event on May 5.
Visit the Lafayette 200 website to find information about more upcoming events over the next several months.
Ray and I have enjoyed honoring my ancestor while participating in the Timothy Demonbreun Heritage Society. I am thankful that so many people are honoring the Marquis de Lafayette for his great service to America.
Render to all what is due them:
tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:7
A question concerning Lafayette coming to America during the Revolution: Who was his translator? There must have been one or more. They would have been vital. Translation work interests me.
I had not run across anything about Lafayette’s translator until just this past Saturday when Ray and I attended the Lafayette event at the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson. An actor portraying Lafayette was at the event. Usually actors who portray historical figures do an excellent job of researching their subject. During the presentation, he said that Lafayette began learning English while on his voyage to America, which lasted 50-something days.