Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier Marquis de LaFayette (1757-1834) was born in the Castle of Chavagnac, in Auvergne, France. He entered the French Army early in life and in 1777 came to America and volunteered for service in the Revolutionary Army. Congress made him a Major General. He became a close friend of General George Washington, was wounded at Bradywine, suffered a winter at Valley Forge and distuinguished himself in the Yorktown campaign.
In 1824 he revisited America, including Georgia. Congress voted him $200,000 and a township of land. He died in Paris. This city is proudly named for him.
