By Christina Caobranzan, B.A. ‘28, Mathematics
Talan Maskivish, B.A. ’27, Criminal Justice
Nate Pelaz, B.A. ’28, Interior Architecture
Public interest in the Marquis de Lafayette surged after Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2015 hit musical Hamilton, but the Frenchman had already been a beloved figure in America during his own lifetime. In a D.C. Mondays program on February 10, 2025, hosted by the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies, public historian Elizabeth Reese discussed Lafayette’s tour of the National Capital Region in 1824. She traces his route in her recent book Marquis De Lafayette Returns (Arcadia Publishing, 2024), which highlights the meaningful places and people he visited.
Lafayette had enduring ties to early American leaders, especially George Washington and the Washington family. He served under Washington as an officer during the Revolutionary War and the two men developed a close father-son relationship. On his U.S. tour, Lafayette visited Washington’s tomb at Mount Vernon.
Lafayette even witnessed history on his return to the United States. Reese spotlighted his visit to the Capitol, where he saw the dramatic tie-breaking vote of the 1824 presidential election from the House Gallery. This pivotal moment in U.S. political history underscored Lafayette’s unique position as a living link to the Revolution.
The presentation also shed light on Lafayette’s beliefs, including his strong stance against slavery, a topic he often debated with figures like Thomas Jefferson. Reese discussed Lafayette’s personal relationships with formerly enslaved individuals, such as James Armistead Lafayette, the American spy who gained his freedom with Lafayette’s support. These stories add depth to Lafayette’s legacy, portraying him not only as a Revolutionary War hero — and now a celebrated stage character — but also as a devoted champion of human rights.
You can watch a video of this D.C. Mondays program below and browse upcoming talks on the website.
This post was written by students in Professor Jessica McCaughey’s COMM 3190 class at George Washington University.
About the Authors
Nathaniel Pelaez is an undergraduate at GW studying interior design with a passion for Cuban history, culture and creative storytelling.
Talan Maskivish is an undergraduate at GW studying criminal justice.
Christina Nguyen is an undergraduate at GW studying applied mathematics and sociology.
Header image: N. Currier, “La Fayette at the Tomb of Washington – Mount Vernon Va.,” c. 1845. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.