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’s stop in Canandaigua occurred on June 7, 1825. He arrived in Western New York via the Erie Canal, traveling through Rochester and Mendon before reaching Canandaigua. He was greeted at the local hotel, provided an "elegant" dinner, and spent the night at John Greig's mansion, a prominent local figure.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.