Ben Franklin's World BFW Revisited: The Marquis de Lafayette
Feb 3, 2026
Mike Duncan, podcaster and author known for Revolutions, offers a concise mini bio and deep knowledge of Lafayette. The conversation traces Lafayette’s leap to America, his bond with Washington, and how American lessons shaped his role in France. It highlights his military learning, political ideals, and cross-Atlantic influence during the Age of Revolutions.
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Lafayette As Transatlantic Revolutionary
- Lafayette personifies the Age of Revolutions by carrying ideas and alliances across the Atlantic world.
- His life links American ideals to French reform efforts and broader Atlantic upheaval.
Runaway Noble Joins The Cause
- Lafayette ran away from a luxurious life at Versailles at age 19 to join the American revolt.
- He preferred fighting with colonial militias to staying in courtly privilege.
Privilege Plus Enlightenment Ideas
- Lafayette combined aristocratic ambition with Enlightenment liberalism gained from reading classical and contemporary texts.
- That intellectual mix predisposed him to pursue reforms and revolutionary action.
