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Lafayette (MARIE JEAN PAUL ROCH YVES)

MARIE JEAN PAUL ROCH YVES GILBERT MO- TIER, MARQUIS DE, a famous French military officer and statesman; born in the castle of Chavagnac, Auvergne, France, Sept. 6, 1757. He belonged to an ancient family; came to his estates at 13; married three years later; entered the army, and sailed, in spite of the opposition of the court, for America in 1777, to offer his sword to the colonists in their struggle for independence. He became an intimate and admiring friend of Washington, who gave him the command of a division after his conduct at the battle of Brandywine. The treaty between the insurgents and France at once led to war between France and Eng- LAFAYETTE land, and Lafayette returned to his country early in 1779. Six months later he again crossed the Atlantic, was charged with the defense of Virginia, and had his share in the battle of Yorktown, which practically closed the war. On a third visit to North America in 1784, after the conclusion of peace, his tour was a continual triumph.

Lafayette had imbibed liberal principles in the freer air of America, and was eager for reforms in his native country He was called to the Assembly of Notables in 1787, and sat in its successor, the Assembly of the States General, and LAFAYETTE in that which grew out of it, the famous National Assembly of 1789. He took a prominent part in its proceedings, and laid on its table, July 9, 1789, a Declaration of Independence. He was soon appointed to the chief command of the armed citizens, whereupon he formed the National Guard, and gave it the tri-color cockade. He struggled incessantly for order and humanity, yet was mortified to the heart by the furious violence of the mob. The Jacobins hated his moderation, while the court abhorred his reforming zeal. Along with Bailly he founded the club of the Feuillants, and he supported the abolition of title as well as of all class privileges. or After the adoption of the constitution of 1790 he retired to his estate of Lagrange till he received the command of the army of Ardennes, with which he won the first victories at Philippeville, Maubeuge, and Florennes. But the returned to his ix months later Atlantic, was of Virginia, battle of Yorkcloned the war. o North America in onclusion of peace, his aal triumph.

Imbibed liberal princiir of America, and was in his native country. the Assembly of Nota sat in its successor, The States General, and FAYETTE wout of is the famous 789. He took lings, and a Declara soon ap of the ormed the the tri-color uggled incessantly ty, yet was mortithe furious violence obins hated his modcourt abhorred his ng with Bailly he the Feuillants, and tion of title as well ileges. tion of the constitution ed to his datate of La ceived the command of dennes, with which he ctories at Philippeville, Florennes. But the LAFAYETTE COLLEGE hatred of the Jacobins increased, and at length Lafayette, who had gone from the army to Paris publicly to denounce the Jacobin Club, finding on his return to the camp that he could not persuade his soldiers to march to Paris to save the constitution, rode over into the neutral territory of Liège. He was seized by the Austrians and imprisoned at Olmütz till Bonaparte obtained his liberation in 1797; but he took no part in public affairs during the ascendency of Bonaparte. He sat in the Chamber of Deputies from 1818 to 1824 as one of the extreme Left, and from 1825 to 1830 he was again a leader of the opposition.

In 1830 he took an active part in the revolution, and commanded the National Guards. In 1824 he revisited the United States, by invitation of Congress, which voted him a grant of $200,000 and a township of land. He died in Paris, May 20, 1834. In 1898 the public school children in the United States contributed in small sums the funds for a statue of Lafayette, which was erected in Paris.