Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, is the famous Frenchman who got “the job done” during the American Revolution. He was only 19 when he deceived his in-laws and joined the American cause for independence in 1777. He was given the rank of major general—an impressive title for one who had never seen combat.
Though naive and untested, Lafayette’s role in the American Revolution was vital. Washington regarded him as one of his most invaluable officers and a surrogate son. Lafayette, whose father was killed when Lafayette was only two, likewise considered Washington a father figure and was possibly his greatest supporter.
As Lafayette demonstrated his bravery, commitment to the cause, and ability to learn, he was gradually given more of the battlefield responsibilities he craved. He distinguished himself multiple times, notably at Brandywine and Yorktown.
Among Lafayette’s greatest assets was his network among the French nobility, as he was able to lobby King Louis XVI and his ministers to support the Americans.
