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 around 1:30 a.m.in the Frenchtown–Elkton area on October 7, 1824, where he was formally welcomed before boarding the steamboat United States for his journey south toward Baltimore. Despite the hour, Lafayette was formally welcomed by local citizens and officials.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.