An Old Assyrian Proverb By Marquis De Lafayette - 1894 Words

An old Assyrian proverb states â€Å"tell me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are†, but what does that say about you when you’re friends with the great George Washington? Does it mean that you yourself are also a great man? That is what it truly seems to mean when it comes to Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was the top-ranking officer to the commanding general George Washington, and a very huge contributor to the United States of America gaining its independence. Marquis de Lafayette was born on September 6, 1757, in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France. By the age of two Marquis lost his father who was a Colonel of grenadiers when he was killed at the battle of Minden in 1759 during the seven years’ war. Nine years after his father’s death in 1768, he moved to Paris with his mother, and entered the college du Plessis. By the age of 12 Marquis became an orphan when his mother passed away as well. His grandmother pass ed not long after his mother as well, leaving Marquis with a large inheritance. On April 9, 1771, When Lafayette was fourteen years old he entered the Royal Army. Two years later when he reached the age of sixteen, Lafayette married Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles. This gave him an alliance with one of the top and most wealthy families in France since she was related to the king. Lafayette was introduced to America at a dinner on August 8, 1775. The Duke of Gloucester spoke with him of the struggles going on in the colonies