President George Washington handwritten letter to Lafayette’s Son

This historically important handwritten letter from President George Washington to George Washington de Lafayette, the young son of the Marquis de Lafayette, inviting him to visit him in Philadelphia before he leaves the presidency to return to Mount Vernon.

Washington had a paternal relationship with the Revolutionary War and French Revolution hero Marquis de Lafayette. Therefore, Washington had similar feelings with Lafayette’s son, who was named after him. When this letter was written, Marquis de Lafayette was imprisoned in Austria.

The letter also reflects the continued presence of Alexander Hamilton within Washington's inner circle. Though no longer serving in office, Hamilton is entrusted to facilitate the young Lafayette's travel, a reminder of how these Revolutionary-era relationships endured beyond their formal roles.