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LAFAYETTE’S TOUR

Program
Lafayette Trail
Subject
Event, People
Location
Lafayette Memorial, 91 East St, Vernon, CT 06066, USA
Lat/Long
41.859787092013, -72.432039782891
Grant Recipient
The Lafayette Trail, Inc.
Historic Marker

LAFAYETTE’S TOUR

Inscription

LAFAYETTE'S TOUR
ON SEPT. 4, 1824, GENERAL
LAFAYETTE WAS RECEIVED AT
KING'S TAVERN BY THE 1ST CO.,
GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARD AND
ESCORTED TO EAST HARTFORD.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2022

When America declared its independence on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies were pulled into a conflict with one of the world’s most formidable powers, Great Britain. The colonies’ actions against Great Britain inspired a young French aristocrat and military officer, Marquis de Lafayette, to depart his native France to fight in the American Revolution. Lafayette served as a commander with the Continental Army throughout the war and helped secure French support for the American cause. This support played an integral part in securing American victory during the war.

Celebrated as a hero in the U.S. and France, Lafayette eventually returned to his home country. In 1824 Marquis de Lafayette was invited to visit the United States for the first time in 41 years. As an American hero and one of the only surviving commanders from the Revolution, Lafayette’s visit to the U.S. was highly anticipated and met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Lafayette’s Tour extended from 1824 to 1825. During this time he visited Washington D.C., as well as major cities and small communities across 24 states.

On September 4, 1824, General Lafayette arrived in Vernon, CT where he visited King’s Tavern before traveling onward to East Hartford. The September 7, 1824 edition of the newspaper American Mercury mentions the short visit:

On Saturday morning he [Lafayette] proceeded, attended by the committee, to King’s Hotel in Vernon, where he was received at half past 8 o’clock by the 1st Company Governor’s Horse Guards commanded by Maj. Hart, who escorted him to Phelps’ hotel in East Hartford…


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