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 May 19, 1825, General Lafayette made his first stop in the state of Ohio. Traveling from Covington, Kentucky, across the Ohio River by barge, he was received at the river landing in the city of Cincinnati by Ohio Governor Jeremiah Morrow. Lafayette was then escorted to the Cincinnati Hotel, where he was greeted by a large crowd. A stage had been erected in front of the hotel, where Lafayette was introduced to local Revolutionary War veterans, followed by an address from William Henry Harrison, who expressed gratitude and welcomed the General to the city. Lafayette departed Cincinnati the following night aboard the steamship Herald.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.