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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. 

Lafayette was traveling north from Pittsburgh toward Erie on the newly improved road system. Mercer was one of the few stops where Lafayette arrived after midnight, but he was still greeted by enthusiastic local residents. He rested until daybreak at the Hackney Tavern and then departed at 7:00 a.m. for Erie.

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