Lafayette (HAMILTON MUSICAL)

Marquis de Lafayette's christened name was Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. He was born in a chateau in Chavaniac, France in 1757, September 6. As regards his very long name, he joked in his autobiography, saying, “It’s not my fault,” and, “I was baptized like a Spaniard, with the name of every conceivable saint who might offer me more protection in battle.”

Lafayette, very much like his contemporaries Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, was orphaned at the young age of 12, when his mother and grandfather passed away, leaving behind a grand fortune.

Lafayette's father was martyred whilst fighting the British during the Seven Year's War at the battle of Mindenin in 1759. Therefore, he was inspired to strike back at them. Lafayette arrived in America when he was nineteen years old. At the end of the war, he was twenty-six.

Lafayette was not a member of the Sons of Liberty nor did he join up with the political revolutionaries as portrayed in the show. Going against his family's and King Louis XVI's wishes, Lafayette arrived in the New World at the age of 19 to join the American Revolution. Upon his arrival, Lafayette caught the attention of General George Washington who quickly made Lafayette a member of his staff around the same time as Hamilton. This is where Alexander Hamilton and Lafayette developed their friendship and began their famous written correspondence.

Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, held Lafayette in extreme regards. The Marquis remained at His Excellency's side during the harsh winters at Valley Forge, 19 Dec 1777 – 19 Jun 1778 as well as in the last and decisive battle of the Revolution, the battle of Yorktown, 1781.

Lafayette returned to France to great fanfare following the victory against the British where he joined the French abolitionist movement while working as a diplomat between France and the United States. On July 11, 1789, Lafayette presented "the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" to the National Assembly, a French variation on the Declaration of Independence written with the help of his buddy Thomas Jefferson. Several events during the revolution led to Lafayette being branded as a loyalist, which began his decline in the eyes of the French people. Though in Cabinet Battle #2, Alexander Hamilton tells Thomas Jefferson, "Lafayette’s a smart man, he’ll be fine", the truth of the matter was that during that time, Lafayette was being held a prisoner by the Austrians for being a "dangerous radical" (ironically after he escaped France due to his opposition to the the Reign of Terror being instigated by the Jacobins).

Lafayette was a very close friend of Eliza Schuyler, wife of Alexander Hamilton. She was acquainted with him before she was wooed by Hamilton at the Winter's Ball. After Alexander passed away, Lafayette stayed with Eliza for sometime before returning back to France.

May 20, 1834, at the age of 76, Lafayette passed away in Paris.