Marquis de LaFayette - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 21.496 W 071° 03.794
19T E 330086 N 4691617
A marble bust of LaFayette is located in the Senate Chamber of the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA.
Waymark Code: WMN19E
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 12/06/2014
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.
A 26" by 24" by 12" marble bust of Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de LaFayette created by Horatio Greenough in 1833 is located in a niche on your left as you enter the visitors area of the Senate Chamber of the Massachusetts State House. The sculpture shows the head and shoulders of LaFayette wearing a toga robe. The bust rests on a circular tapered plinth which sits on a 2 foot square by 3 foot tall marble base. The base is inscribed with the name LAFAYETTE.
The sculpture was given to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Horatio S. Greenough, the son of the sculptor, in 1898.
The Massachusetts State House is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. All visitors must enter through the General Hooker entrance.