Marquis de Lafayette

Born: September 6, 1757 Died: May 20, 1834

Marquis de Lafayette was born into an ancient noble family on September 6, 1757. He was born in Chavaniac, France and was orphaned in his early teens. Even before marrying Adrienne de Noailles in 1774 Lafayette inherited an immense fortune from his family. 

In 1777 Lafayette came to the United States after deciding that the cause for the revolutionary war was noble. He wanted to win glory as a soldier and he eventually became a leading advocate for the continental army. 

Marquis de Lafayette both worked with Benjamin Franklin and served on George Washington’s staff. During the first few years of the French Revolution and during the July Revolution of 1830 Lafayette was one of the most powerful men in France. He died on May 20, 1834 in Paris. He died on Pneumonia and was buried in a cemetery next to his wife in Paris.