Statue of the Comte de Rochambeau

Last updated
Major General Comte Jean de Rochambeau
Rochambeau Statue (Washington, D.C.) - DSC01033.JPG
The Rochambeau statue in 2012
Location Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.
Coordinates 38°53′56.44″N77°2′15.83″W / 38.8990111°N 77.0377306°W / 38.8990111; -77.0377306
Built1902
Architect Fernand Hamar (sculptor)
L. Laurant (architect)
Ferdinand Gaussen (stonework)
Val d'Osne Foundry (founder)
Part of American Revolution Statuary
Lafayette Square Historic District
L'Enfant Plan
NRHP reference No. 78000256 [1] (American Revolution Statuary)
70000833 [2] Lafayette Square Historic District
97000332 [3] (L'Enfant Plan)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 29, 1970 (Lafayette Square Historic District)
July 14, 1978 (American Revolution Statuary)
April 24, 1997 (L'Enfant Plan)
Designated DCIHSJanuary 19, 1971 (L'Enfant Plan)
June 19, 1973 (Lafayette Square Historic District)
March 3, 1979 (American Revolution Statuary)

Major General Comte Jean de Rochambeau is a bronze statue honoring Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, a French nobleman and general who played a major role in helping the Thirteen Colonies win independence during the American Revolutionary War. Rochambeau joined the French military as a teenager, participating in the War of Austrian Succession, after which he was promoted to colonel, and the Seven Years' War. During the war in America, Louis XVI asked Rochambeau to lead a force of 5,500 French soldiers to assist the fight against the Kingdom of Great Britain. He and George Washington later worked together in the successful siege of Yorktown. He led the Army of the North during the French Revolutionary Wars, but was arrested and almost executed during the Reign of Terror. His military rank was restored by Napoleon and Rochambeau died a few years later in 1807.

Contents

In the late 1800s, a plan was made to erect four statues in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., honoring foreign heroes of the war. The second one erected would be the statue of Rochambeau. French embassy official Jules Boeufvé worked tirelessly to have the statue, a replica of the original statue in Vendôme, France, installed in Lafayette Square. Congress authorized the plan in 1901. The following year, sculptor Fernand Hamar's replica was delivered to the United States. A base with additional statuary was also installed.

The dedication took place on May 24, 1902, with thousands of invited guests and onlookers in attendance. Amongst those that spoke during the unveiling and dedication ceremony were President Theodore Roosevelt, French General Joseph Brugère, French Ambassador Jules Cambon, and members of Congress. After the festivities in Washington, D.C., the French delegation was taken on a train tour of places Rochambeau had spent time. A few years later, a commemorative book was written by De Benneville Randolph Keim, and given to people who were in attendance at the ceremony.

Since that time, the statue has often been cleaned to remove verdigris, but a portion of the inscriptions have faded due to weather. The statue rests on a tall base adorned with two figures: a woman depicting Victory who is holding a sword and two flags, and an eagle beside her. Rochambeau's statue is one of 14 American Revolution Statuary in Washington, D.C., that were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites the following year. In addition, the statue is a contributing property to the L'Enfant Plan and the Lafayette Square Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.

History

Biography

Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, was born in 1725 in Vendôme, France. When he was 17, Rochambeau joined the French military and received praise from his commanding officers for his conduct in the War of Austrian Succession, leading to a promotion to colonel at 21 years old. The next decade he fought in the Seven Years' War. When the American Revolutionary War broke out, Rochambeau was near retirement from the military, where he held the rank of lieutenant general. In 1780, Louis XVI requested he participate in the Expédition Particulière , which would see 5,500 French soldiers fight alongside the Continental Army against the Kingdom of Great Britain. [4] [5]

Rochambeau and his forces sailed for 70 days before reaching Newport, Rhode Island, where the soldiers quickly built fortification. Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces, General George Washington, wanted Rochambeau to attack British General Henry Clinton's forces in New York. Rochambeau did not agree to the plan because the French Navy had not arrived to assist him. He thought the Southern Colonies should be the next focus of the war. After promised troops and navy forces did not arrive by the following year, Rochambeau agreed to Washington's plan to attack British forces in New York. However, with the arrival of Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse and additional French troops, both Washington and Rochambeau chose to attack General Charles Cornwall in Virginia. [4]

The combined French-American forces traveled south via the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. It was in Virginia where the Siege of Yorktown took place, with 12,000 troops encircling British forces. The British surrendered in October 1781, essentially marking the end of the war. Rochambeau returned to France in 1783 and several years later commanded the Army of the North during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was awarded the distinction Marshal of France in 1791 and retired to Vendôme the following year. During the Reign of Terror, Rochambeau was almost executed in 1794 after being imprisoned and stripped of his military rank. Once Napoleon came to power, his military rank was restored. A few years later, Rochambeau died in 1807. [4]

Memorial plans

Fernand Hamar working on the statue Fernand Hamar and statue.jpg
Fernand Hamar working on the statue

After the installation of the statue of the Marquis de Lafayette in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., in 1891, plans were made to erect three more statues to honor foreign heroes of the American Revolutionary War. The statue of Rochambeau would become the second memorial installed in the square. In Vendôme, sculptor Fernand Hamar had created a statue of Rochambeau that was unveiled in June 1900. Before the unveiling took place, there were already plans to make a replica for Lafayette Square. French embassy official Jules Boeufvé had been contacting U.S. senators since April of that year, asking them to have a replica of the Rochambeau statue brought to the United States. He said the cost would be around $7,500. [4]

U.S. Senator George P. Wetmore introduced an amendment on May 23, 1900, to allocate $10,000 for the installation of the statue, but the bill did not make it past committee meetings, which had already reduced the funding to $7,500. Boeufvé asked the U.S. ambassador to France, Horace Porter, to send a letter of support for the statue. A few months later Porter wrote a letter to the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, which stated: "At the request of Mr. Boeufvé, of the French Embassy in the United States, I beg to say that I participated, on June 4th last, at Vendôme, in the unveiling of the statue of Rochambeau by the French artist Fernand Hamar, and that I found it to be a spirited and excellent work of art. It seems to me that it would be very appropriate and would give great satisfaction, if means were found to erect in Washington, D.C., a replica of the Marshal’s Statue." [4]

U.S. Representative James McCleary introduced a bill the following February that allocated $7,500 for the statue. That bill failed, but U.S. Senator Henry C. Hansbrough introduced another one which was ultimately successful. The Act of Congress passed on March 3, 1901. [4] [6] Out of the 24 bills to erect memorials in Washington, D.C., that came before Congress from 1899 to 1903, only four others were approved. Boeufvé was noted for his help and determination in having Congress authorize the installation. [4]

In total, $42,500 was appropriated by Congress for the transportation and installation of the statue, a base for the statue, and the traveling expenses for Rochambeau's family, Lafayette's family, and French government officials. [4] The Rochambeau Monument Commission, consisting of McCleary, Wetmore, Secretary of State John Hay, and Secretary of War Elihu Root, was created to select a site for the statue, as well as planning its unveiling. In December 1901, Hamar finished the replica. Architect L. Laurant designed the base, Ferdinand Gaussen carved the stonework, and Val d'Osne Foundry was responsible for the founding. [4] [7]

Dedication

In addition to the aforementioned families and officials, President Theodore Roosevelt and Congress officially invited French citizens to the statue's unveiling, which would take place on May 24, 1902. That date was chosen because it was the anniversary of when Rochambeau joined the military. French President Emile Loubet received a letter of invitation in March of that year. He assigned a delegation of officials to attend the ceremony, including General Joseph Brugère and Vice Admiral Ernest François Fournier. Amongst the French civil delegation was Hamar and his father, in addition to the Rochambeau and Lafayette families. Rear Admiral Raymond P. Rodgers and Third Assistant Secretary of State Herbert H. D. Peirce were amongst the U.S. delegation that were appointed to assist the French guests of honor.

Dedication of the statue in 1902 Rochambeau statue dedication ceremony.jpg
Dedication of the statue in 1902

The French delegation arrived in New York City on May 17, 1902, and began their travel to the nation's capital. On May 20, U.S. Navy ships, consisting of the USS Olympia, the USS Kearsarge, and the USS Alabama, greeted the French battleship Gaulois in Annapolis, Maryland. The delegation visited Mount Vernon in Virginia the day before the unveiling ceremony. Later that night, they attended state dinners at the French embassy and at the White House. [4] [7]

On May 24, 1902, thousands of guests in addition to thousands of members of the public gathered in Lafayette Square for the unveiling. Temporary stands were built by the statue for guests of honor, each one a patriotic color. The red stand was reserved for U.S. House members, the white stand reserved for U.S. Senate members along with patriotic groups, and the blue stand reserved for the French delegation, President Roosevelt, his cabinet, justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and diplomats. The statue was draped with French and U.S. flags and two soldiers from each country stood at the statue's corners. [4]

Roosevelt and his cabinet members were led from the White House to the statue by soldiers dressed in colonial military uniforms. When he arrived to the site, the crowd cheered. The invocation was given by Reverend Dr. Stafford followed by an address from the president, which was often interrupted with loud applause. Countess Rochambeau then pulled the cords, unveiling the statue, while an artillery salute took place and the United States Marine Band played the French national anthem, La Marseillaise . There was a loud applause and then Hamar was introduced to the crowd. This was followed by speeches from Ambassador Jules Cambon, Senator Porter, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and by Brugère, who said Entre vous, entre nous; à la vie, à la mort. ("Between you, between us; To life, to death.") [4] [8] After the ceremony, the French delegation was taken on a tour of places Rochambeau had spent time, including West Point, Niagara Falls, Newport, and Boston. [4]

Later history

Replica of the statue in Paris Statue of Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau (Paris), Jan 2020 (10).jpg
Replica of the statue in Paris

There was interest shown in creating a commemorative book covering the statue and its unveiling. In February 1904, Congress passed a resolution to create one and to print 10,000 copies, intended for those that were at the ceremony. The book, Rochambeau: A Commemoration by the Congress of the United States of America of the Services of the French Auxiliary Forces in the War of Independence, was written by De Benneville Randolph Keim. [4]

The statue in Washington, D.C., is not the only replica of Hamar's design. The second replica is located on Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie in Paris. It was installed in November 1933. The third replica, in Newport, was installed on July 13, 1934. The original statue was destroyed by Nazis during World War II. The Society of the Cincinnati raised funds for a fourth replica that replaced the original. It was installed in 1974. [4]

Verdigris has been removed from the statue on numerous occasions, beginning in 1910. A major cleaning of the statue and others in Lafayette Square took place in 1987. In addition, the foundation and base were recaulked. Although the statue has been somewhat easy to upkeep, the base and its inscriptions have not fared as well. Over time, weather has caused many of the inscriptions to be illegible. A few pieces from the granite and base statue have broken off throughout the years. [4]

The Rochambeau statue is one of 14 American Revolution Statuary that were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 14, 1978. The statuary was added to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) the following year on March 3, 1979. Because of its location on a square planned by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the statue is a contributing property to the L'Enfant Plan, listed on the NRHP and DCIHS on April 24, 1997, and January 19, 1971, respectively. In addition, the statue is a contributing property to the Lafayette Square Historic District, a National Historic Landmark which was added to the NRHP on August 29, 1970, followed by the DCIHS on June 19, 1973. [9] The statue and surrounding park are owned and maintained by the National Park Service. [10]

Location and design

Lafayette Square is seen on the left, across the street from the White House Aerial view of LaFayette Park, located directly north of the White House on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C LCCN2011646652.tif
Lafayette Square is seen on the left, across the street from the White House

The Rochambeau statue is located on the southwest corner of Lafayette Square, at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Jackson Place NW, in Washington, D.C. The statue is across from the White House to the south and the Peter Parker House to the west. The statue is one of four that are sited on Lafayette Square's four corners. In the center of the park is the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson. [6] [11]

The statue is made of bronze and the base is granite. The statue is 8-feet tall (2.4 m) and the diameter is 6 feet (1.8 m). The base is 20-feet tall (6.1 m) and 12-feet 2-inches (3.7 m) on all four sides. Rochambeau is depicted standing and pointing south into the distance with his right hand, showing his troops where to go. His left hand is holding papers that contain plans for the siege of Yorktown. He is wearing a Marshal of France uniform, including a three-pointed hat and the cockade of France, and a Order of the Saint Esprit medal. His sword is on his left side. Behind his left foot are a cannonball and cannon and laurels are in front of his feet. [4]

Below Rochambeau are two bronze figures on the pedestal, which are not on the original statue. [4] The woman dressed in armor represents Liberty, and holds a sword in her left hand, and the flags of France and the United States with her right hand. The sword is protecting an eagle, one of the national symbols of the United States. There are waves at the bottom of these two figures, depicting the woman and eagle standing on the bow of a ship while the wind is blowing, which symbolizes France arriving to help the colonies in their fight for independence. The eagle is clutching a shield made of granite that is adorned with the thirteen stars and stripes of the original U.S. flag. The granite wreath of laurels near the bottom of the base represents peace. [4] [12]

The neoclassical-style base is composed of three tiered sections. The top section underneath Rochambeau is pyramidal-shaped and become square-shaped as it moves down to the second tier. On this top tier, in addition to the Victory and eagle statues, are decorative granite shields on the east and west sides. The Rochambeau family crest is on the east shield and the coat of arms of France on the west shield. Both shields have a crown and garland above them and laurels below them. The second tier is also pyramidal-shaped until reaching the third tier, which is square-shaped. The statue is standing on a mound of grass measuring 55-feet in diameter (16.8 m). [4]

The inscriptions read: [13]
(Sculpture of Liberty, front near base:)

FONDU PARLE PAL D'OSNE 58 RUE VOLTAIRE

F. HAMAR

(Base, north face:)

We have been
contemporaries
and
fellow labourers
in the cause
of liberty
and we have lived
together
as brothers should do
in harmonious friendship
WASHINGTON TO ROCHAMBEAU
February 1, 1784

(Base, north face, bottom:)

BY THE CONGRESS
MAY XXIV MDCCCCII

(Base, front below sculpture of Rochambeau:)

ROCHAMBEAU

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau</span> French nobleman and army officer

Marshal Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general whose army played a critical role in helping the United States defeat the British Army at Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. He was commander-in-chief of the French expeditionary force sent by France to help the American Continental Army fight against British forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Paul Jones Memorial</span> Statue by Charles Henry Niehaus in Washington, D.C, U.S.

The John Paul Jones Memorial, also known as Commodore John Paul Jones, is a monument in West Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. The memorial honors John Paul Jones, the United States' first naval war hero, and received the Congressional Gold Medal after the American Revolutionary War ended. Jones allegedly said "I have not yet begun to fight!" during the Battle of Flamborough Head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Webster Memorial</span> Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S.

The Daniel Webster Memorial is a monument in Washington, D.C., honoring U.S. statesman and lawyer Daniel Webster. It is located near Webster's former house, beside Scott Circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, N Street, and Rhode Island Avenue NW. The person who commissioned the memorial was Stilson Hutchins, founder of The Washington Post, who greatly admired Webster. Congress approved the memorial in 1898 and the dedication ceremony took place in January 1900. Amongst the attendees at the ceremony were President William McKinley and his cabinet, members of Congress, and Supreme Court justices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochambeau Monument (Newport, Rhode Island)</span>

Rochambeau Statue and Memorial is a monument to French nobleman and General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, who was a key commander of the French forces who assisted the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The monument is located on the waterfront in King Park, along the southern edge of Newport Harbor, near Brenton Cove and Fort Adams state park and was erected in 1934. This is the 3rd replica of the Rochambeau Statue in Lafayette Park, Washington DC, which was created by renowned French sculptor Fernand Harmar. It was donated by A. Kingsley Macomber. The statue was restored in 2019 by the fundraising efforts of members of the Alliance Française of Newport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.</span> Urban park and square in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Lafayette Square is a seven-acre public park located within President's Park in Washington, D.C., directly north of the White House on H Street, bounded by Jackson Place on the west, Madison Place on the east and Pennsylvania Avenue on the south. It is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and hero of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and includes several statues of revolutionary heroes from Europe, including Lafayette, and at its center a famous statue of early 19th century U.S. president and general Andrew Jackson on horseback with both of the horse's front hooves raised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of David Farragut (Washington, D.C.)</span> Artwork by Vinnie Ream

Admiral David G. Farragut is a statue in Washington, D.C., honoring David Farragut, a career military officer who served as the first admiral in the United States Navy. The monument is sited in the center of Farragut Square, a city square in downtown Washington, D.C. The statue was sculpted by female artist Vinnie Ream, whose best-known works include a statue of Abraham Lincoln and several statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection. The monument was dedicated in 1881 in an extravagant ceremony attended by President James A. Garfield, members of his cabinet, and thousands of spectators. It was the first monument erected in Washington, D.C., in honor of a naval war hero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmund Burke (Thomas)</span> Statue by James Havard Thomas in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Edmund Burke is a bronze, full-length statue of British statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher Edmund Burke by British artist James Havard Thomas. The original statue is in Bristol, England, with a second cast in Washington, D.C. The statue in Washington, D.C., stands in Burke Park, at the intersection of 11th Street, L Street, and Massachusetts Avenue NW, on the southern border of the Shaw neighborhood. The statue was a gift from the Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, on behalf of the Sulgrave Institution, an organization that wanted to celebrate United Kingdom–United States relations. One way the group did this was by exchanging statues and busts between the two countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of George Washington (Washington Circle)</span> Statue by Clark Mills in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Lieutenant General George Washington is an 1860 equestrian statue of George Washington, at Washington Circle, at the edge of the George Washington University's campus, in Washington, D.C. The statue was sculpted by Clark Mills, who also created the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson in front of the White House. The traffic circle where the statue is located was one of the original city designs by Pierre Charles L'Enfant. The statue and surrounding park are in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood at the intersection of 23rd Street, New Hampshire Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The K Street NW underpass runs beneath the circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson (Washington, D.C.)</span> Equestrian statue by Clark Mills in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Andrew Jackson is a bronze equestrian statue by Clark Mills mounted on a white marble base in the center of Lafayette Square within President's Park in Washington, D.C., just to the north of the White House. Jackson is depicted dressed in military uniform, raising his hat with his right hand, while controlling the reins with his left hand as his horse rises on its rear legs. 

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of the Marquis de Lafayette (Washington, D.C.)</span> Statue by Alexandre Falguière in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Major General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette is a statue in the southeast corner of Lafayette Square, in Washington, D.C., near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Madison Place, across the street from the White House. The statue was erected in 1891 to honor Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, and his contributions in the American Revolutionary War. The square, originally part of the President's Park, was named in honor of the Marquis in 1824 during a visit he made to the U.S. The statuary was made by Alexandre Falguière and Antonin Mercié, and the architect who designed the marble pedestal was Paul Pujol. The monument comprises a bronze statue of the Marquis de Lafayette about 11 ft (3.4 m) high, standing on a French marble pedestal with four faces decorated with classical mouldings, accompanied by seven additional bronze statues, all larger than life size.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Artemas Ward</span> Statue by Leonard Crunelle in Washington, D.C., U.S.

General Artemas Ward is a bronze statue of American Revolutionary War general Artemas Ward. It is sited in the center of Ward Circle, which was specifically made for the statue, at the intersection of Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenue in the American University Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The 10-foot (3.0 m) statue of Ward was completed in 1936, but was not unveiled for two years. Ward was the first Commander-in-Chief of colonial forces during the Revolutionary War and served in a number of government roles, including as representative to the United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Tadeusz Kościuszko (Washington, D.C.)</span> Memorial by Antoni Popiel in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Brigadier General Thaddeus Kościuszko is a bronze statue honoring Polish military figure and engineer Tadeusz Kościuszko. The sculpture was dedicated in 1910, the third of four statues in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., to honor foreign-born heroes of the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1746, Kościuszko later received education at a Jesuit school before attending the Corps of Cadets in Warsaw. He later traveled to France where he studied in military academy libraries and adopted views of human liberty during the Age of Enlightenment. He moved to the Thirteen Colonies in 1776, where the war with the Kingdom of Great Britain had already begun. Kościuszko served as an engineer in the Continental Army, earning the praise of his superiors, including General George Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben</span> Statue by Albert Jaegers in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben is a bronze statue of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian solider who assisted the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War. Steuben had fought in previous wars, earning promotions until he assisted in the courts of Frederick the Great and later Josef Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. After meeting with Benjamin Franklin, and fearing for his safety in Europe after alleged homosexual behavior, Steuben and his associates arrived to help the Continental Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of John Witherspoon</span> Statue by William Couper in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Doctor John Witherspoon is a bronze sculpture and granite pedestal which depicts John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister, member of Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Scotland, Witherspoon immigrated to the U.S. in the 1760s and later became president of the College of New Jersey. He strongly supported the Thirteen Colonies in their fight to obtain freedom from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of John Barry</span> Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S.

The statue of John Barry commemorates the "Father of the United States Navy", Commodore John Barry (1745-1806). Barry was an Irish-born sailor who joined the American colonists in fighting for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Barry became the first commission by the Second Continental Congress. He captained several ships during the war, and not only fought in the Continental Navy, but also the Continental Army. He was the first American to capture an enemy ship and was promoted to commodore by President George Washington in 1794. Barry's last ship, the United States, fought in the Quasi-War. He retired in 1801, but remained head of the United States Navy until his death in 1806.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Nathanael Greene</span> Statue by Henry Kirke Brown in Washington, D.C, U.S.

Major General Nathanael Greene is a bronze equestrian statue honoring Nathanael Greene, a military leader during the American Revolutionary War. Greene was from modern-day Rhode Island and after laws passed by the Kingdom of Great Britain, along with the burning of one of his ships, Greene formed a state militia. He was later promoted to brigadier general in the Continental Army where he became a trusted adviser to Commander-in-Chief General George Washington. Greene played an active role during the war, participating in battles, sieges, and campaigns from New England to the Southern Colonies. For his service to the war, Greene was offered free land and settled in Georgia with his family. He died a few years later from a heatstroke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Benjamin Franklin (Washington, D.C.)</span>

The outdoor statue of Benjamin Franklin in Washington, D.C., is located near the intersection of 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the Old Post Office. The statue was a gift from Stilson Hutchins, founder of The Washington Post, who wanted to display his and the newspaper's stature in the city. The designer, Ernst Plassmann, and sculptor, Jacques Jouvenal, were both German-American artists. The architect of the memorial was J. F. Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Casimir Pulaski</span> Statue by Kazimierz Chodziński in Washington, D.C., U.S.

General Casimir Pulaski is a bronze equestrian statue of Casimir Pulaski, a military man born in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He joined the military at a young age, fighting for removal of the king, who was backed by Russia. After his side lost the war, he fled to Paris, where he met Benjamin Franklin. Impressed by Pulaski, Franklin wrote a letter of recommendation to George Washington, suggesting he would be a helpful soldier during the American Revolutionary War. After arriving in the U.S., Pulaski eventually was promoted to Brigadier General and commanded a cavalry unit, the Pulaski's Legion. He died in 1779 due to injuries sustained in battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Revolution Statuary</span> United States historic place

American Revolution Statuary is a group of fourteen statues in Washington, D.C., listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The statues are scattered across Washington, mainly in squares and traffic circles, with four statues of European officers displayed in Lafayette Square, across from the White House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Nathan Hale (Washington, D.C.)</span> Statue by Bela Pratt

Captain Nathan Hale is a bronze statue of Nathan Hale (1755-1776), a schoolteacher from Connecticut, who enlisted in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was stationed in Boston, but was later transferred to the New York City area. While in New York, Hale acted as a spy against the Kingdom of Great Britain's army. He posed as a teacher and was able to cross enemy lines to obtain military information. He left the area and before he could return home, his cousin, a Loyalist, informed the British about what Hale had done. He was captured and sentenced to death, with the hanging occurring the following day. While Hale was on the gallows, he gave a speech which ended with his famous quote: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Rochambeau Statue History". National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  5. Goode, James M. (1974). The outdoor sculpture of Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 379.
  6. 1 2 Scott, Gary (October 3, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - American Revolution Statuary". National Park Service. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Byrn, Edward W. (May 31, 1902). "The Unveiling of the Rochambeau Statue". Scientific American. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  8. "France and America: Join in Dedicating the Statue of Rochambeau". New-York Tribune. May 25, 1902. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  9. "District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites" (PDF). District of Columbia Office of Planning – Historic Preservation Office. September 30, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  10. "Comte de Rochambeau Statue". DC Preservation League. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. Bednar, Michael (2006). L'Enfant's Legacy: Public Open Spaces in Washington, D.C. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 39, 101–103. ISBN   9780801883187.
  12. "Major General Comte Jean de Rochambeau, (sculpture)". Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. "General Rochambeau Statue". National Park Service. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.