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President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown. 

After a dinner and ball on May 16, 1825, Lafayette attended a formal breakfast with the city’s Masonic leadership. Lafayette was not just a celebrity—he was the most famous Freemason in the world, a brother of Washington, and a symbol of Enlightenment ideals. While in Lexington, Lafayette was the houseguest of Richard Clough Anderson. Anderson was a retired General Officer of the Virginia Continentals who spent the winter at Valley Forge with General Washington and fought in the Battle of Trenton. He later fought in other battles and served as an aide to General Marquis de Lafayette.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War . For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.