The Family Lafayette
The Marquis Gilbert (plus a slew of middle names) Motier de Lafayette was born in 1757, into one of the wealthiest aristocratic families in France. Orphaned as a toddler, he became a ward of the King, who provided him with a superb education. At seventeen, he married fifteen-year-old Adrienne de Noailles, just as wealthy and well placed as he was. Happily for them, and despite a litany of separations and woes caused by various wars and hardships, it was a solid and loving marriage.
But a nineteen year old Lafayette also fell in love with the American War of Independence. His education, which included extensive military training, commended him to General George Washington, who learned quickly enough that the young Frenchman had all the requisites of a fine commander.
On a brief visit home to France in 1779 (to urge the King’s assistance for the USA), Lafayette’s son was born. He named him Georges Washington Lafayette (1779-1849), as a token of his high esteem for his American Commanding General. And as a further token of his personal affection, he asked the General to be the baby’s godfather. GW was delighted to accept.
Following the better part of six years in the brand-new United States of America, helping them fight for their freedom from Great Britain, the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) returned to his home in France. He was still in his mid-twenties, and still one of its wealthiest aristocrats.
Back in France
In 1787, the same time Washington was presiding over the Constitutional Convention, Lafayette was appointed to the Assembly of Notables. Crises on many levels, particularly financial, had brought France to the brink of its own civil war.
Thomas Jefferson, erstwhile Governor of Virginia, was serving as Ambassador (using the modern terminology) to France, and had grown to love all things Gallic. He worked tirelessly with Lafayette to draft the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, hopefully to deflect the growing threat of violence. It was wishful thinking.
By the time Thomas Jefferson returned to the US and became Secretary of State to the new President George Washington, the Bastille had been overthrown. It was the opening salvo of the French Revolution.
Once again, the French Monarchy, hanging on by a thread, sought the services of Lafayette, and elected him to the Estates General and again as Commander of its National Guard. His chief responsibility was to protect the King and Queen. Again, wishful thinking.
By 1792, the Revolution was in full swing. The monarchs were overthrown and beheaded, but its government was more anarchistic or despotic in nature than anyone could have predicted. During one of their “radical governments du jour” Lafayette fled to the Austrian Netherlands, where he was arrested and spent five years in prison. Several members of his family met the guillotine.
The Dilemma
The French Revolution sent ripples around the world. The decade from 1789-1797, was called the Reign of Terror, with reason. Even the most ardent US Francophiles despaired at times. George Washington, first President of the United States, was deeply torn. He had never traveled abroad, spoke no other language than English, and his knowledge of high level foreign diplomacy was mostly limited to military situations.
GW had personal affection and regard for Lafayette, and had he been a private citizen, would doubtless provide whatever assistance he could to the Marquis and his family. But he was not a private citizen. His primary allegiance was to the fledgling United States, which needed to keep a neutral balance in its political-foreign relationships. It was classic rock-and-hard-place. If he tried to aid the Marquis, he would alienate the French government (whatever one they had at the time). If he toed the diplomatic road (whatever one that was at the time), Lafayette would no doubt suffer. He remained in jail. His wife and son were refugees.
Adrienne de Lafayette managed to smuggle her son into hiding, disguised as a peasant. Then, in 1795, at the suggestion of James Monroe, then Ambassador to France, and long-time friend of Lafayette, the Marquise arranged to send Georges, now around sixteen, along with his tutor, to America, care/of his godfather George Washington, the President of the United States
Another Dilemma
Normally GW would have been delighted to welcome his godson to the President’s House, but that would have caused an “international incident,” something the POTUS tried to avoid at all costs. So young Lafayette waited it out in New York until better arrangements could be made. 1796 was an election year, and GW was determined to retire at the end of his second term.
When the time was right, an invitation to the President’s House was made to the young Frenchman. He would spend the next two years as guest of his godfather.
When GW retired, his godson stayed with the Washingtons at Mount Vernon for several months. He finally returned to France in 1798. His father had been released from prison and Napoleon had assumed command of the government. The Family Lafayette, whatever was left of it, had their citizenship restored.
Young Georges Lafayette joined the French Army and served until 1807, when he returned to civilian life. He had married the daughter of the Comte de Tracy, and had three daughters and two sons. He entered the Chamber of Deputies, and usually voted with the liberal side. He maintained a quiet private life.
Epilogue
In 1824-5, Georges Washington Lafayette accompanied his father, the Marquis, now past seventy, on a two-year trip to the USA, to visit old friends and familiar places, and where his father received accolades and honors wherever he went. The Senior Marquis was granted honorary US citizenship, the first and only distinction of its kind for more than a hundred years.
And both Lafayettes laid a wreath at George Washington’s grave at Mount Vernon, where they both shed tears.
Sources:
Fraser, Flora – The Washingtons” George and Martha “Join’d by Friendship, Crown’d by Love – Alfred Knopf, 2015
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marquis-de-Lafayette
Presidential History Blog 