Marquis de LaFayette - Hartford, CT
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 41° 45.750 W 072° 40.904
18T E 692711 N 4626004
A Marquis de Lafayette Monument is located in LaFayette Circle on Capitol Avenue in Hartford.
Waymark Code: WMD545
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 11/20/2011
Views: 4
Marquis de LaFayette was born in Chavaniac, in south central France on September 6, 1757, into a French aristocratic family. On December 6, 1776, 19 year old Lafayette arranged to enter the American service as a major general. After some difficulty in leaving Europe, he arrived in South Carolina on 13 June 1777 and joins the Continental Army and fought in the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington. He was wounded during the Battle of Brandywine.
During the Revolutionary War he was able to negotiate an increase in French support. By his efforts and that support in the blockade of Yorktown was successful; which resulted in the termination of the war. LaFayette became a United States citizen during his lifetime. He died in Paris, France on 20 May 1834. In 2002, he was awarded honorary United States citizenship.
12' by 17.5' by 4' bronze equestrian statue of LaFayette is set on a 10' by 17.5' by 15' three-tiered granite base. The statue was created by Paul Wayland Bartlett and cast at the Roman Bronze Works, foundry. The fabricator for the monument was Albert Entress. The monument was dedicated on November 11, 1932. It was moved to its present location in 1979. The statue is a copy of the statue of LaFayette that is located outside the Louvre in Paris.
The figure of LaFayette wearing a long period coat open at the collar is astride a horse. He is holding a sword straight up in his proper right hand. The horse's reins are held in his left hand at waist level. His boots are in the stirrups and the horse's right front foot is raised off the ground. A most unusual feature is the small turtle is near the horse's left rear hoof.
The front of the base is simply inscribed:
LaFayette
A plaque on the east side of the base is inscribed:
TO THE
MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE
BORN SEPTEMBER 6, 1757
DIED MAY 20, 1834
A TRUE FRIEND OF LIBERTY, WHO SERVED AS
A MAJOR GENERAL IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY WITH
"ALL POSSIBLE ZEAL, WITHOUT ANY SPECIAL PAY
OR ALLOWANCES" UNTIL THE AMERICAN COLONISTS
SECURED THEIR FREEDOM, AND WHOSE FREQUENT
VISITS TO THIS STATE AS AIDE TO WASHINGTON
AS LIAISON OFFICER WITH SUPPORTING FRENCH
TROOPS, AND IN THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM, ARE
GRATEFULLY REMEMBERED.
THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED BY THE
CONNECTICUT LAFAYETTE BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
IN THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR OF
THE BIRTH OF THIS GREAT FRENCHMAN
SEPTEMBER 21, 1957