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 in Chester late on the night of October 5, 1824, landing at the riverfront around 11 p.m., where townspeople greeted him with tall candles and escorted him to the courthouse for a 1 a.m. banquet in the Grand Jury Room of the Courthouse. Chester held deep personal significance for Lafayette. After being wounded in the leg at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, he had retreated to Chester, where his injury was first dressed.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.