For this research paper, I will be talking about a less known founding father the name of Marquis de Lafayette. He is a French noble who came and helped the colonies, during the revolutionary war. He made many sacrifices for the colonies and this paper will tell you what he did. He was born on September 6, 1757, in Chavaniac, France to a prestige’s military family. By the age of twelve he was a very rich orphan. Life moved at a very fast pace in the 1700’s and Marquis de Lafayette found himself joining the royal army at the age of fourteen. Then at the age of sixteen he allied himself to one of one of the richest families in France by marring fourteen year old Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles. Her family was also closely related to the king. The fact that his father was killed by the British in the Battle of Minden, the influence of his grandmother, and the fact that being in the milatiry was in his DNA may have all set his life on a course towards America. He was nineteen when he decided to go to and join the American Revolution. Many Frenchmen were willing to join in the fighting because of the lingering resentment of the British and their noble pursuit of freedom. Lafayette knew his king would never approve of this going to America so his friend Comte de Broglie introduced him to Baron Johan de Kalb and the two men purchased a ship and gathered men and supplies to help in the war effort. During the fifty-four days that it took them to sail from France to the newly declared United States he started learning English so he would be able to communicate when he arrived. He finally reached Charleston, South Carolina in June 13, 1777 he heads to Philadelphia to speak with the Continental Congress. They were not real su... ... middle of paper ... ...everal appointments in the government after his return to focus his attention to rebuilding his estate. He was invited back to United States in 1824 and toured the country; people came out in mass to see him. Lafayette would continue his work in government holding firm his belief in a represented form of government for his country. His last appointment was to the French National Guard, which he held until till his death of pneumonia on May 20, 1834. Works Cited "The Marquis De Lafayette." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014."History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website." The Marquis De Lafayette : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. "Marquis De Lafayette Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
In Woody Holton's Forced Founders, that most revered segment of the revolutionary generation, the elitist gentry class of Virginia, comes across very much as a group of self-serving reactionaries, rather then the idealized revolutionaries of the great patriotic myth of popular history. He sets about disassembling a central portion of the myth created by earlier generations of Consensus historians, by asserting that rather then gallantly leading the charge for independence, Virginia's elitist gentry resorted to independence as their last and only means of saving their elite ruling status, their economic futures, and even their very lives many feared. While this is very much an example of revisionist history, Holton has not so much rewritten history, as he has provided the back story of the complexity and diversity of the Virginia colony on the eve of the American Revolution. For while the book's title may insinuate otherwise, lowly groups like slaves and Indians discussed here are afforded only the status of “founders” by pressing those traditionally thought of in this role to take the plunge for independence. Still the papers and correspondence of the iconic figureheads of the revolutionary generation like Washington, Jefferson, and Madison make up the bulk of primary sources.
Born in January of 1737, John Hancock grew up to become a prominent founding father and important Patriot in American history. Filling many roles throughout his life, John Hancock shaped the course of the Revolution by standing out against the British rule. Originally a merchant and statesmen, Hancock became the president of the Second Continental Congress and helped convince all thirteen colonies to unite for their independence (History). Hancock stood for freedom in a time in which many leaders still hesitated to declare independence, and his influence convinced many colonists to unite against tyranny and still inspires many people today. To play such a significant role in the history of America, however, Hancock grew from experiences long
Monroe wasn’t very interested in college while he was there. He heard people speak against the British and he agreed that the colonies should be free. He started taking part in
During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...
George Rogers Clark had three friendships as a child that forever changed and shaped his future as a leader and revolutionary war hero. Thomas Jefferson's father owned a nearby plantation, though there was a nine year age difference between Thomas Jefferson and George Rogers Clark, the two enjoyed a life long friendship. He was also a classmate of James Madison, who would later be a strong supporter of George Rogers Clark and his military campaigns. Last, George Mason, a future Revolutionary war statesman and me...
Lafayette returned to France in 1787. In 1789 he was elected a member in the Estates General of 1789. Soon after that he helped write the Declarations of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, with the assistance of Thomas Jefferson. Later that year the Storming of the Bastille happened and Marquis was appointed Commander in-Chief on the National Guard. After three years in August of 1792 and terrible thing happened to Lafayette. The Radical Factions ordered Lafayette’s arrest. While fleeing through the Austrian Netherlands Lafayette was caught and arrested. He spent more than five years in prison. Marquis returned to France after Napoleon secured his release in 1797. Napoleon offered him a spot in his military but Lafayette turned it down. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1814 Marquis became a Liberal Member in the Chamber of Deputies. 10 years later in 1824 President James Monroe invited Lafayette to the United States as the Nation’s guest. During France’s July Revolution he was offered to be French Dictator and said no. Then another sad day came and Marquis de Lafayette had died. His final day was on May 20, 1834 and was buried in the Picpus
John Hancock was born on January 23, 1727 in Braintree, Mass. He is the son of John Hancock and Mary Hawke. John Hancock (father) was a Harvard graduate and minister. They lived in a part of town which eventually became the city known as Quincy, Mass. where John Hancock became the childhood friend of John Adams. In 1742, Hancock’s father died and he was adopted by his uncle, Thomas Hancock. Thomas Hancock lived in Hancock Manor in Boston where he had no children and he was a successful privateer and a merchant. John enrolled in Harvard University, received a bachelors degree, after graduating form Boston Latin School in 1750. After graduating from Harvard he worked for his uncle and he was trained for eventually partnership. From 1760 to 1761, he lived in England. He was building relationship with customers and suppliers of his uncle’s shipbuilding business. In January 1763, Thomas Hancock made John his full partner of his business. Since his uncle was sick, he took over the business. A year later, in August, Thomas Hancock dies of illness. He took full control of the business and became one of the wealthiest in America. At first John Hancock did well. His ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with good for the people of London. His ships sailed back with god to sell the colonies. Many colonies needed and bought the goods made in England, the mother country. John Hancock made a lot of money. He was generous, too. He gave food and firewood to the poor in the winter. He also gave a lot of money to the churches of Boston. Many people liked John Hancock because he was a kind man. (Lee, 3-11)
Jefferson was succeeded as president in 1809 by James Madison. During the last 17 years of his life, Jefferson remained in Virginia. As the 'Sage of Monticello' he engaged in a rich correspondence with John Adams and others. Jefferson's last great public service was the founding of the University of Virginia in 1819. He died at Monticello on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Born in March 15, 1767: “A child of the backwoods, he was left an orphan at 14. His
The Marquis de Lafayette is best remembered for the part he played in the American War of Independence. He contributed in helping the Americans gain free control over the colonies by breaking away from British home rule. For sixty years he fought with consistency and insight for political ideals and social reforms that have dominated the history of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hence, Lafayette can be attributed to the spreading of liberty and freedom throughout America and France. Therefore, he is viewed as a symbol of liberalism in a once absolutist world.
Then in 1768 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where from the very start he made his presence known. If first proposal to the body was to establish procedures for the emancipation of slaves, an idea quickly shot down. He remained a member of the house until its dissolution in 1774 by the colony’s British Governor Dunmore.
Champlain was born in 1574 in Brouage, to a family of marines and sea captains. He was the son of Antonio de Champlain ( a captain in the French marines), and his mother’s maiden name is Marguerite Leroy. His hometown had many big ports and ships, so he was very connected to boats when he was little. He had very little education, but he was able to become very educated by himself. He knew a lot of things because he taught them to himself. While he was still young, he entered the army.
Samuel de Champlain, who is referred to as the Father of New France, was born in the Brouage, Saintonge province, Western France. He was born to a protestant family around 1570. His father Anthoine de Champlain was a sea captain. The fact that his father worked in the high sea as a navigator, gave Samuel a strong desire to be a sailor and an explorer. This came when he was barely twenty years, under the guide of François Grave, he made his first voyage trip to the North America. Samuel Champlain never acquired a formal education in either Greek or Latin literature, but he learnt to navigate, drawing art of nautical charts, and writing. He also learnt the fighting techniques as part of a requirement for French sailors and later he was enrolled as a soldier in the army under King Henry.
Courageous. Willing. Patriot. These meaningful words define who John Hancock was to America. Born on January 23, 1737, Hancock demonstrated leadership qualities since youth. He played a major role in the American Revolution, as a leading figure, Massachusetts, as a successful governor. Hancock was a true patriot, through his courageous acts of defiance to Britain, pooling his funds to support the Revolution, and leading the Second Continental Congress. Hancock risked his life and the welfare of the people he loved to stand up for his, and the colonist’s freedoms and natural rights they deserved. John Hancock was a people’s man, adored by everyone in Massachusetts, and most of The Second Continental Congress; which allowed him to succeed greatly at leading the revolution.
Flexner, James Thomas. George Washington: The Forge of Experience 1732-1775: Boston, Toronto. Little, Brown and Company. 1965.