Lafayette Co.

Of the United States' 3067 counties, 2136 are named for individuals! Of those, six are named in honor of the French nobleman, the Marquis La Fayette. Of those six, one is in Mississippi-- just up the road!

Before I continue, I'll answer the obvious question: "How do you know something so insanely trivial?"

Seriously? You had to ask? Crappy old book.

I mention this because according to my sources (1, 2), 236 years ago today the Marquis himself arrived in Georgetown, South Carolina, hurried to Philadelphia, and joined the American Revolution. 

As an aside, I must say if any county in Mississippi should have been named for a French nobleman, it would be the county that's home to That School Up North which was established in 1844. (The county itself was named in 1836.)

I first learned of La Fayette's participation in the Revolution from Bennett's Almanac, but the story is much more interesting Bennett lets on. (I know. I probably "learned" this some time ago but had not recalled it until today.)

La Fayette was orphaned at 13 and inherited a "princely fortune." He was a captain in the Guard when the Colonies proclaimed their independence. He wrote in his memoirs, "At the first news of this quarrel my heart was enrolled in it." Through an American agent in Paris, he arranged to enter the American service at the rank of major-general. At that time, December '76, things weren't going too well and everyone-- including our old friend Ben-- discouraged him. So adamant were folks to keep him in France that his ship was seized, and he was arrested! 

That did not stop him.


He was 19 when he arrived in Georgetown. He spoke little English. Nevertheless, he presented himself to Congress with the arrangement he'd made with the American agent in Paris.  Appreciating the difficulties associated with having the rank of major-general, he offered to serve as a "simple volunteer." It was this-- that he offered to serve without pay-- that convinced Congress to pass a resolution 

that his services be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connections, he have the rank and commission of a major-general of the United States.

La Fayette and Washington became life-long friends-- he named his first son Georges Washington Motier De La Fayette! In France he championed liberty, religious tolerance, freedom of the press, popular representation, abolition of titles of nobility and other crappy old revolutionary concepts.

Quite the guy. If you can't get your hands on a crappy old encyclopedia, Wikipedia has a nice entry.

References:

(1) William J. Bennett and John T.E.. Cribb. The American Patriot's Almanac. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Dallas, etc. 2008.

(2) The Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Chicago, London, Toronto, Geneva. 1962.