President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown.
Lafayette arrived on May 21, 1825, in Maysville aboard the steamboat Herald, traveling down the Ohio River as part of his nationwide tour celebrating American independence. Lafayette was met at Fish Street Landing (now Wall Street) by a Committee of Reception, including prominent local figures such as Major Charles Pelham, Captain Maurice Langhorne, and Reverend John T. Edgar. The procession led him to Captain Langhorne’s hotel, where he dined and met with citizens and veterans. He was escorted back to the Herald later that afternoon and departed for the remainder of his tour.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.