Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier de Lafayette. Delivered at the Request of Both Houses of the Congress of the United States, Before Them, In the House of Representatives at Washington on the 31st December, 1834.

ADAMS, John Quincy.

Item Number: 117241

Washington: Printed by Gales and Seaton, 1835.

First edition of John Quincy Adams’ biography of military hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Octavo, bound in red morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Association copy, inscribed by John Quincy Adams on the presentation leaf, “David Spangler, from John Quincy Adams.” In near fine condition. A nice example.

Often referred to as "The Hero of Two Worlds", French aristocrat and military officer Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette was a key figure in both the American and French Revolutions. Commissioned an officer at age thirteen, he became convinced that the American revolutionary cause was noble, traveled to America, and was made a major general at age nineteen, soon commanding American troops in several battles including the Siege of Yorktown. He later returned to France where he was appointed commander-in-chief of France's National Guard and played a major role in the composition of the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen with Thomas Jefferson's assistance.