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President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown. 

Lafayette had left New York City on September 8, 1824, and was making his way up the Hudson River, visiting Revolutionary War sites and towns that had strong patriotic associations. On September 15, while aboard the James Kent, the vessel struck an oyster bank in the wide, shallow waters of Haverstraw Bay, one of the broadest sections of the Hudson. The grounding lasted several hours, delaying his schedule but causing no injury. The incident became a memorable local moment of his tour.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War . For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.