Description
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, a commissioned officer in the French Army at 13, joined the American Revolution to be part of its noble cause at 19. He was made a major general and quickly ‟bonded” with George Washington, both of whom were Masons. Marquis de Lafayette was at Brandywine, Valley Forge, Barren Hill, Monmouth, Rhode Island, and the Siege of Yorktown. Admired by the Oneida tribe, who supported the colonists, they called him Kayewla or ‟fearsome horseman.ˮ Heralded a champion in France, he was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton. He worked with Jefferson on trade negotiations to reduce the U.S. debt.
Valley Forge
As British forces occupied Philadelphia, Washington led 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children into an encampment at Valley Forge. Winter conditions were brutal and 2,000 people died of disease. Baron von Steuben drilled and trained the soldiers, while Washington improved military organization, creating a modern United States Army.
The Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War was fought from 1775 to 1783. It began as a revolt of the colonies against what they believed was unfair taxation. While it started as a conflict between Great Britain and the thirteen American colonies, it soon became a global conflict. France actively sided with the colonies, and the French naval fleet was instrumental in defeating the British at Yorktown. Holland supplied the colonies weapons, while Spain supplied funding and diverted British forces by fighting on a second front and winning back Spanish forts in Florida that they lost during the Seven Years War. No independent country sided with Great Britain, but Britain employed German mercenaries, known as Hessians.
This Marquis de Lafayette history mug is part of our Revolutionary War series which includes many of the notable figures who played major roles during this conflict.
The biographical History Mugs were created to teach and inspire individuals to learn about our diverse and interesting history. The biographies were researched and written by history enthusiast, Robert Compton. He colorized most of the historic photos and images used on the mugs, which were originally black and white or sepia tone. The images and biographies are imprinted on mugs at his studio in rural Vermont.
- Mugs are food and microwave safe.
- To preserve photographic quality we recommend hand washing.
- Mugs are usually shipped within 3-5 days.
- Shipping charges are lower when buying multiple mugs.
