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Statues of Lafayette Square
Lafayette Square
Lafayette Square is located across the street from the White House in Washington, D.C. It is a nice little park to stroll through when the weather is agreeable. Below is short tour of the statues and brief information about the people the statues in the square represent.
Baron Von Steuben
His full name is Friedrick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand Baron Von Steuben as inscribed on the statue. He was born in 1730 and by age 17 was a Prussian officier. He was discharged from the army in 1763 and recieved the title of baron in 1764. In 1777 he came to the American colonies to help the Continental army in the American Revolution. He worked with the army during the winter at Valley Forge in 1778 and helped train the soldiers.
Baron Von Steuben
Andrew Jackson
This statue sits in the center of Lafayette Square. Andrew Jackson was born in 1767 in the Carolinas. He fought as a Major General in the War of 1812. He defeated the British in New Orleans during that war and became an American hero, which eventually led to him being successfully elected to serve as President of the United States between 1829 and 1837.
Andrew Jackson Statue
Rochambeau
Rochambeau was a French aristocrat born in 1725. In 1780, he came to America in charge 5,000 French troops in order to help George Washington in the American Revolution. He returned to France after the Revolution and almost faced his death by guillotine during the Reign of Terror in France.
Rochambeau Statue
General Lafayette
Lafayette was a Frenchman who served as diplomat and General during the American Revolution. He also participated in the French Revolution trying to turn the French government into a constitutional monarchy. The square is named after him despite the Jackson statue being the main feature.
Lafayette Statue
General Thaddeus Kosciuszko
There is also a statue dedicated to Kosciuszko in the square, but it is hard to photograph because it is surrounded by a fence that blocks the view to the bottom and makes it impossible to get a close look at it. Kosciuszko was born in Poland and came to America in 1776 to offer his services in the American Revolution.