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.
On July 29, 1825, Lafayette made an impromptu stop in Havre de Grace, Maryland, during his Farewell Tour, where he was greeted warmly by local citizens along the Susquehanna River on the steamer Norfolk. Although Havre de Grace wasn’t originally on Lafayette’s itinerary, enthusiastic residents persuaded him to pause there en route to Baltimore. According to the journal of his secretary, Lafayette remained in town for several hours.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.