Marquis de Lafayette

Marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat and military leader who played a significant role in the American Revolution and the French Revolution. He was inspired by the ideals of liberty and democracy and volunteered to join the Continental Army under George Washington. He fought bravely in several battles, such as Brandywine, Rhode Island, and Yorktown, and helped secure French support for the American cause. He returned to France as a hero and became a leader of the moderate faction in the French Revolution. He advocated for a constitutional monarchy and human rights, but he was opposed by the radical Jacobins. He was arrested and imprisoned for five years during the Reign of Terror. He was released after Napoleon's coup and resumed his political career. He supported the July Revolution of 1830 that overthrew Charles X and established Louis-Philippe as a constitutional monarch. He remained a popular figure in both France and America until his death in 1834. He was known as "the Hero of the Two Worlds" for his contributions to both revolutions.