Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette 1757 – 1834

Biography

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was born on September 6, 1757, in Chavaniac-Lafayette, France. From his earliest days, he was marked by the privileges of his aristocratic heritage, yet his life would come to embody service to ideals larger than himself. His journey spanned continents and decades, touching the great movements that would reshape nations and redefine liberty itself.

Throughout his remarkable career, Lafayette served as a French general and politician, dedicating himself to causes that transcended personal ambition. His life became intertwined with pivotal historical moments, and he earned enduring respect for his steadfast commitment to principle and justice. Even as the centuries changed around him, his reputation as a man of conviction remained steadfast.

Lafayette passed away on May 20, 1834, in the former 1st arrondissement of Paris, his death brought on by pneumonia at the age of seventy-six. He was laid to rest at Picpus Cemetery in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, where his remains found their final place of honor. His legacy endured far beyond his passing, a testament to a life spent in service to freedom and the betterment of humanity.