One of the most beloved and enduring figures of the entire American Revolution wasn’t even American. The Marquis de Lafayette’s contributions to the cause weren’t just military, though those were profound. As important was his diplomatic work convincing Vergennes, the French foreign minister, to talk the King into giving serious livre tournois to the Patriots. That money - and the thousands of troops that went with it - in time gave the American’s the win. Long after the war was over, Lafayette came back to the USA for a feel-good tour. Here’s what happened.
© 2024 John Oliver
Substack is the home for great culture