simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer who
fought for the United States in the American Revolutionary War. In 1775,
he became convinced that the American cause was noble. In the United
States, he was made a major general. He was wounded during the Battle of
Brandywine and served with distinction in the Battle of Rhode Island. In
1781, troops in Virginia under his command blocked British forces,
leading to the decisive Siege of Yorktown. Lafayette returned to France
and was elected a member of the Estates-General of 1789. After the
storming of the Bastille, he was made head of the National Guard, and
tried to steer a middle course through the French Revolution. In August
1792, the radical factions ordered his arrest. Fleeing through Belgium,
he was captured by Austrian troops and spent more than five years in
prison. In 1824, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to the United
States, where he met a rapturous reception. During France's July
Revolution of 1830, he supported Louis-Philippe as king, but turned
against him when the monarch became autocratic.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_Marquis_de_Lafayette>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1781:
American Revolutionary War: General Benedict Arnold led British
forces to victory in the Battle of Groton Heights.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Groton_Heights>
1930:
Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen was deposed in a
military coup by José Félix Uriburu.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip%C3%B3lito_Yrigoyen>
1955:
A Turkish mob attacked ethnic Greeks in Istanbul, killing at
least 13 people and damaging more than 5,000 Greek-owned homes and
businesses.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_pogrom>
1995:
Baltimore Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. played his 2131st
consecutive major league baseball game, breaking the 56-year old record
set by New York Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Ripken,_Jr.>
2000:
The Millennium Summit, a meeting of world leaders to discuss
the role of the United Nations at the turn of the 21st century, opened
in New York City.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Summit>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
Attic:
1. Relating to Athenian culture or architecture.
2. Marked by the qualities that were characteristic of the Athenians;
classical; refined.
3. Relating to that dialect of Ancient Greek.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Attic>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
When the government violates the people's rights, insurrection
is, for the people and for each portion of the people, the most sacred
of the rights and the most indispensable of duties.
--Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_Marquis_de_Lafayette>
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Daily Article mailing list.
To unsubscribe, visit:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/daily-article-l
Questions or comments? Contact dal-feedback@wikimedia.org