# Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

> French general and politician (1757–1834)

**Wikidata**: [Q186652](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186652)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Lafayette)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gilbert-du-motier-marquis-de-lafayette

## Summary
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834) was a French aristocrat, military officer and politician best known as a French general who played prominent roles in the American Revolutionary War and in French politics during the era of the French Revolution and its aftermath. He is widely remembered for transatlantic influence and for the many places, organizations, and honors associated with his name in France, the United States, and beyond.

## Biography
- Born: 1757 (place not provided in source material)
- Nationality: France
- Education: Lycée Louis-le-Grand; affiliation with the University of Paris (as recorded in source material)
- Known for: Service as a French general and politician; involvement in the American Revolutionary War and participation in French political and military affairs across the French Revolution and subsequent coalitions
- Employer(s): Affiliations and memberships recorded in source material include the University of Paris; Lycée Louis-le-Grand; American Philosophical Society; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Society of the Cincinnati
- Field(s): Military officer; politician; aristocrat

## Contributions
- Military and political leadership: Identified in the source as a French general and politician active from a recorded work period start of 1771 and associated with the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the French Revolution (1789–1799), the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797), and the July Revolution (July 1830) as related historical contexts.
- Transatlantic legacy: Numerous geographic places, institutions, and commemorations named for him appear in the source material, including Lafayette Escadrille (U.S. volunteer air unit constituted in 1916 under French command), many U.S. counties and cities (see “Notable For” and “Body”), streets and squares (rue La Fayette in Paris; Lafayette Street in Manhattan; Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.; Lafayette Square in St. Louis), and other eponymous items such as the Lafayette dollar and USS Lafayette.
- Recognitions listed in source material associated with him include membership or association with the American Philosophical Society and Fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; inclusion in the Society of the Cincinnati; decorations or orders recorded among related recognitions include the Order of Saint Louis and the French Legion of Honour; the source also records connection to the list of names inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe and to the Godfather promotion of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr.

## FAQs
Q: Who was Marquis de Lafayette?
A: He was Gilbert du Motier, a French aristocrat who served as a military officer and politician, noted for his role as a French general and for involvement with the American Revolutionary War and French political events from the late 18th to early 19th century.

Q: When did Lafayette begin his active work period?
A: The source records a work period start of 1771.

Q: With which major historical conflicts is Lafayette associated?
A: The source links him to the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the French Revolution (1789–1799), the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797), and the July Revolution (July 1830) as related historical contexts.

Q: What organizations and learned societies is he associated with?
A: Source material lists affiliations or associations with the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Fellow), and the Society of the Cincinnati.

Q: What educational institutions are connected to Lafayette in the source?
A: The Lycée Louis-le-Grand and the University of Paris are listed among his affiliations.

Q: What kinds of places and things have been named after Lafayette?
A: Many U.S. cities, counties, townships, streets, squares, a mountain (Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire), a parish and cities (e.g., Lafayette Parish, Louisiana; Lafayette, Indiana; Lafayette, California), an aircraft unit (Lafayette Escadrille), and other items such as the Lafayette dollar and USS Lafayette are recorded in the source as related to his name.

Q: What formal honors appear in the source as connected to Lafayette?
A: The source lists the Order of Saint Louis, the Legion of Honour, fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, membership in the American Philosophical Society, Society of the Cincinnati, and inclusion in the list of names inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe among associated recognitions.

Q: What are common alternate names for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette?
A: The source supplies many aliases including Lafayette; Marquis de Lafayette; Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier; Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier; Michel de Lafayette; Michel Louis Christophe Roch Gilbert Motier; marquis de La Fayette; Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette; and variations thereof.

## Why They Matter
Lafayette’s significance rests on a combination of military leadership, political activism, and cross-Atlantic symbolism. As a French general associated with the American Revolutionary War, he represents a major conduit of French support for the United States’ independence movement; the source situates him in that war’s historical context (1775–1783). In France, his career intersects with the French Revolution (1789–1799), the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797), and the July Revolution (1830), marking him as a figure present through successive revolutionary and post-revolutionary political phases. His transnational reputation produced lasting cultural and civic commemoration: countless U.S. counties, towns, streets, squares, and institutions bear his name; a World War I–era U.S. volunteer air unit (Lafayette Escadrille) and naval vessels (e.g., USS Lafayette) memorialize his legacy. Academic and scholarly recognition is recorded by his associations with the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and military honors such as the Order of Saint Louis and the Legion of Honour are listed among connected recognitions. Without Lafayette’s visible role and symbolic stature, 19th- and 20th-century commemorations (place names, organizations, and honors) and some strands of Franco-American historical memory would have developed differently.

## Notable For
- Identification in source material as a French general and politician (wikidata_description: "French general and politician (1757–1834)").
- Active work period beginning in 1771 (work_period_start recorded in source).
- Associations with major historical conflicts listed as related entities: American Revolutionary War (1775–1783); French Revolution (1789–1799); War of the First Coalition (1792–1797); July Revolution (July 1830).
- Affiliations with educational institutions: Lycée Louis-le-Grand and the University of Paris.
- Memberships or associations with learned societies: American Philosophical Society; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Society of the Cincinnati.
- Recognitions and orders listed in source material: Order of Saint Louis; Legion of Honour; names inscribed in the list of names on the Arc de Triomphe; Godfather promotion of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr.
- Extensive eponymy: namesake for numerous U.S. places, townships, counties, streets, squares, and institutions (see Body).
- Large set of historical aliases and name variants recorded in the source.
- Wikipedia title recorded as "Marquis de Lafayette" and sitelink_count of 75 in the source.

## Body

### Identity and names
- Full name variants recorded in source: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette; Lafayette; Marquis de Lafayette; Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier; Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier; Michel de Lafayette; Michel Louis Christophe Roch Gilbert Motier; marquis de La Fayette; Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette; Gilbert du Motier, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette; and additional permutations.  
- The source records his primary descriptor as "French general and politician (1757–1834)."  
- Wikipedia title in the source: "Marquis de Lafayette."  
- The source records a sitelink_count of 75 for his primary entity.

### Chronology and career span
- Work period start: 1771 is recorded in the source as the beginning of his active period.  
- Lifespan years provided in the source metadata: 1757–1834.  
- The source situates his career within the contexts of:
  - American Revolutionary War (related entity; dated 1775–1783 in source)
  - French Revolution (related entity; dated 1789–1799)
  - War of the First Coalition (related entity; dated 1792–1797)
  - July Revolution (related entity; dated July 1830)

### Roles and fields
- Military officer: the source classifies him under the general category "military officer."  
- Politician: the source lists "politician" as a primary occupation.  
- Aristocrat: the source includes the classification "aristocrat."  
- Human: recorded under the generic category "human" in the source taxonomy.

### Education and affiliations
- Lycée Louis-le-Grand: listed under "Affiliated with" in source material.  
- University of Paris: listed under "Affiliated with" in source material (University of Paris with inception notes in related metadata).  
- American Philosophical Society: included in related organizations; source records the society’s inception and country as context.  
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences: included in the source’s awards/recognition list; the academy’s inception (1780-05-04) and country (United States) are recorded in related data.  
- Society of the Cincinnati: included among recognitions; inception listed as 1783-05-13 in source data.

### Honors, awards, and recognitions (as recorded)
- Order of Saint Louis: listed under Awards/Recognition in the source.  
- Legion of Honour: listed under Awards/Recognition.  
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: listed under Awards/Recognition.  
- American Philosophical Society: listed among related affiliations.  
- Society of the Cincinnati: listed under Awards/Recognition.  
- List of names inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe: included in source’s Awards/Recognition section.  
- Godfather promotion of Special Military School of Saint-Cyr: listed among recognitions in the source.  
- The source also lists "honorary citizen of the United States" as a recognition-type item in the Awards/Recognition section (the item appears in the related set recorded).

### Legacy and eponymy (places, organizations, and objects recorded as related)
The source lists many places, organizations, and objects connected to the name Lafayette; the following items appear in the related data and reflect the breadth of his commemorative legacy:
- Countries and national contexts tied to his life and legacy: France; United States.  
- Military and wartime commemorations: Lafayette Escadrille (U.S. volunteer unit constituted in 1916 under French command); USS Lafayette (1962 submarine class reference in related items).  
- Cities, towns, and municipalities in the United States bearing his name or variants thereof: Lafayette (Chippewa County, Wisconsin); Lafayette (city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana); Lafayette, Indiana; Lafayette, California; Lafayette (city in Macon County, Tennessee); Fayetteville (various entries including Fayetteville, West Virginia and multiple Fayettevilles recorded); Fayette (various cities); West Lafayette (Indiana).  
- Counties, parishes, and townships named in related entries: Lafayette County (Wisconsin; Missouri; Mississippi; Arkansas; Florida; others listed), Fayette County (Pennsylvania; Georgia; Tennessee; Indiana; Illinois; Texas; Iowa; Kentucky; Ohio; West Virginia), Fayetteville Township (Illinois), Lafayette Township (Coshocton County, Ohio; Ogle County, Illinois; St. Louis County, Missouri), Lafayette Parish (Louisiana).  
- Streets and public spaces: rue La Fayette (Paris); Lafayette Street (Manhattan); Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.); Lafayette Square (St. Louis, Missouri).  
- Geographic features: Mount Lafayette (New Hampshire).  
- Commercial and cultural items: LaFayette Motors (automobile manufacturer); Lafayette dollar (silver coin issued related to the 1900 Paris World's Fair); 23244 Lafayette (asteroid).  
- Other related named places: Lafayette (city in Chippewa County, Wisconsin); Fayetteville (county seat and various places as recorded).  
- The source also lists a number of municipality inception dates and country contexts for many of these eponymous places (for example, Fayette County, Pennsylvania inception +1783-09-26; Lafayette Parish inception +1821-00-00; Mount Lafayette location in New Hampshire), indicating the breadth of commemorations across time and place.

### Institutional and cultural influence
- Academic and learned-society recognition: the source records links to the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, indicating scholarly acknowledgment recorded in related metadata.  
- Military schooling legacy: the source records a "Godfather promotion of Special Military School of Saint-Cyr" among recognitions associated in the data.  
- Inscriptional commemoration: the source includes the "list of names inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe" in the Awards/Recognition set, connecting Lafayette to the memorial landscape of France.

### Metadata and catalog information
- Wikipedia title: "Marquis de Lafayette" as recorded in the source.  
- Wikidata description: "French general and politician (1757–1834)."  
- Sitelink count for the primary entity as provided: 75.

### Related historical contexts (dates and brief notes taken from the related items)
- American Revolutionary War: listed in related entities with date range 1775–1783.  
- French Revolution: listed with date range 1789–1799.  
- War of the First Coalition: listed with date range 1792–1797.  
- July Revolution: listed as July 1830 in related items.  
- Country contexts in related data: France (multiple historical inception qualifiers including 0843-08-00 for West Francia, 0481 for Francia, 1804-05-18 for First French Empire) and United States (inception 1776-07-04; independence recognized 1784-05-12 per Treaty of Paris 1783 as recorded).

### Summary of factual limits in source
- The source provides names, affiliations, related historical events, and an array of places and honors connected to Lafayette, but it does not include a detailed narrative biography, explicit birth location, full chronology of military actions, nor primary published works or patents attributable to Lafayette in the provided material. The entry above compiles and organizes every relationship, connected entity, and structured property present in the supplied source material.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. datos.bne.es
4. Union List of Artist Names. 2016
5. [Source](https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2019-10/electionIndex1780-1799.pdf)
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. [Source](https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/POG/FRAN_POG_05/p-1lqnx5k8d--imz309ivofzm)
9. [Source](https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/02048/)
10. [Source](https://francearchives.fr/fr/file/ad46ac22be9df6a4d1dae40326de46d8a5cbd19d/FRSHD_PUB_00000355.pdf)
11. Sycomore
12. SNAC
13. Find a Grave
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15. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
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17. GeneaStar
18. Roglo
19. IdRef
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. [Source](http://www.mediterranee-antique.fr/Auteurs/Fichiers/ABC/Charavay/Lafayette/Lafayette_116.htm)
22. [Source](https://www.leprogres.fr/sortir/2014/10/05/francois-de-bouille-ce-cousin-de-lafayette-a-la-conquete-des-antilles)
23. Shakeosphere
24. LIBRIS. 2012
25. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
26. [Marquis de Lafayette MBTI Personality Type: ENFP](https://www.personality-database.com/profile/34232/marquis-de-lafayette-historical-figures-1700s-mbti-personality-type)
27. Catalogo of the National Library of India