Who was James Armistead Lafayette?

James Armistead Lafayette was an enslaved African American who served as a spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution. His crucial espionage work helped lead to the Patriot victory at the Siege of Yorktown.

What was James Armistead Lafayette's Relationship with the Marquis de Lafayette?

James Armistead Lafayette worked as a spy for Marquis de Lafayette, providing the French general with intelligence from the British camps. In 1784, after the Revolution, the marquis helped secure James' freedom from slavery, leading James to adopt the surname 'Lafayette' as a show of gratitude.

Why was James Armistead Lafayette not freed from slavery after the Revolution?

While enslaved Black soldiers of the American Revolution were immediately freed after the war, James Armistead Lafayette was not, because he had served as a spy rather than an enlisted soldier. He had to fight for his freedom, which he achieved in 1787 with the help of Marquis de Lafayette.

James Armistead Lafayette Timeline

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Definition

James Armistead Lafayette (l. c. 1748-1832) was an African American Patriot who served the Continental Army as a spy during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). During the Siege of Yorktown, he infiltrated the British camp to bring crucial intelligence to the Americans. After the war, he was freed from slavery with the help of the Marquis de Lafayette, whose name he adopted.

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