Hero of Two Worlds by Mike Duncan
7 out of 10Gilbert du Motier, known as the Marquis de Lafayette, lived an eventful life full of action and at-the-time-radical ideals. A man who enjoyed inherited wealth and title in France worked hard to promote the blessings of liberty for all people. As a young honorary officer serving under Gen. George Washington in the American Revolutionary War, he risked his life and gained bullet wounds to prove his ambition. He would play a pivotal role in leading American troops and cementing an alliance with France to defeat Britain. Involved in the heart of the French Revolution and the subsequent wars with major European powers, Lafayette surrendered himself to the Austrians and Prussians--spending six years imprisoned. Released penniless and countryless, he eventually made a deal to restore his estate under the condition that he abstained from politics. As an old man, he was warmly welcomed on a tour of the United States. After that, he returned to France as an impactful politician with a consistent voice.