Today is the birthday of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, French military leader and political influencer. Lafayette, as he is known in the States, was instrumental in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution both in the second half of the 1700s. 

 

The first part of Lafayette’s life was of true comfort. He was born to wealthy aristocratic parents in 1757. His upbringing and education were balanced and with a long line of military men before him, Lafayette developed a healthy taste for action. (His father died in battle when Lafayette was a month away from 2 years old.)

 

At 16 he was betrothed to 14-year-old Adrienne de Noailles and they married soon thereafter. 

 

Around age 18 Lafayette became a believer in the American Revolution. He came to see the cause as a noble one - the colonies were fighting for justice against a greedy Britain. As a French aristocrat, Lafayette likely already had a deeply entrenched sense of contempt for the British nation. 

 

Going against a royal decree, Lafayette traveled to America to join the fight against the British. His military training would prove invaluable for the Americans and he was present at a number of important Revolutionary battles including the final Battle of Yorktown. 

 

 

Despite what may seem like a nerdy description, Nuttall was a force. She was born to an Irish father and Mexican-American mother in San Francisco in 1857. 

 

After a lengthy education in Europe, Nuttall discovered a fascination with MesoAmerica in a visit to Mexico in 1884. Her clear passion and excitement for the history of native peoples in Mexico shone through in a paper about a grouping of Mexican artifacts. The publication impressed the archaeology community so much that Nuttall was given a position at Harvard University as the Special Assistant of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

 

Nuttall would come to love Mexico and its history so much that she moved there permanently. She continued archaeological and anthropological work even though she was rarely paid for it. She did find a benefactor in Phoebe Hearst, mother of William Randolph Hearst, who funded a number of her projects. 

 

Nuttall work on Mexico’s ancient history served to give a newfound pride to the nation and helped to dispel popular but negative narratives of MesoAmericans. 

 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

 

As when far off the warbled strains are heard

That soar on Morning's wing the vales among,

Within his cage th' imprison'd matin bird

Swells the full chorus with a generous song:

He bathes no pinion in the dewy light,

No Father's joy, no Lover's bliss he shares,

Yet still the rising radiance cheers his sight—

His Fellows' freedom soothes the Captive's cares!

Thou, FAYETTE! who didst wake with startling voice

Life's better sun from that long wintry night,

Thus in thy Country's triumphs shalt rejoice

And mock with raptures high in the dungeon's might:

For lo! the morning struggles into day,

And Slavery's spectres shriek and vanish from the ray!