James Armistead Lafayette

James Armistead Lafayette was born on December 10, 1760 in New Kent County, Virginia, or Elizabeth City, United States, is Spy. James Armistead Lafayette was an African-American slave who worked for the ‘American Continental Army’ during the American Revolutionary War as a spy. After James volunteered himself in the ‘American Continental Army’ and upon approval of his master William Armistead, he was assigned to serve the allied French forces commander Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette designated him as a spy. He was first assigned the task to report movements of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold who was initially with the ‘American Continental Army’ but later pulled out to join the British Army. He was highly successful in his pretentious mode of a British spy, so much so that he was assigned by Arnold to guide the British armed forces through the local roads. During the ‘Siege of Yorktown’ he served as a spy under Lafayette and posed to be a fugitive slave and gained confidence of the British lord and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. While moving between British camps, he could easily extract information as the British officers un-hesitantly discussed their moves in his presence. He would prepare written reports with detailed information and pass them on to other American spies. Through his espionage he played an instrumental role in enabling the American forces to dominate the ‘Battle of Yorktown’.
James Armistead Lafayette is a member of Spies

Does James Armistead Lafayette Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, James Armistead Lafayette has been died on August 9, 1830(1830-08-09) (aged 69)\nNew Kent County, Virginia.

🎂 James Armistead Lafayette - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

When James Armistead Lafayette die, James Armistead Lafayette was 69 years old.

Popular As	James Armistead Lafayette
Occupation	Spies
Age	69 years old
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn
Born	December 10, 1760 (New Kent County, Virginia, or Elizabeth City, United States)
Birthday	December 10
Town/City	New Kent County, Virginia, or Elizabeth City, United States
Nationality	United States

🌙 Zodiac

James Armistead Lafayette’s zodiac sign is Capricorn. According to astrologers, Capricorn is a sign that represents time and responsibility, and its representatives are traditional and often very serious by nature. These individuals possess an inner state of independence that enables significant progress both in their personal and professional lives. They are masters of self-control and have the ability to lead the way, make solid and realistic plans, and manage many people who work for them at any time. They will learn from their mistakes and get to the top based solely on their experience and expertise.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

James Armistead Lafayette was born in the Year of the Dragon. A powerful sign, those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dragon are energetic and warm-hearted, charismatic, lucky at love and egotistic. They’re natural born leaders, good at giving orders and doing what’s necessary to remain on top. Compatible with Monkey and Rat.

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Biography/Timeline

1748

Armistead, an enslaved man, was owned by william Armistead of Virginia. Most sources indicate that James Armistead was born in 1748 in New Kent County, Virginia, though others put his birth around 1760 in Elizabeth City, Virginia.

1781

After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James went to the camp of Lord Charles Cornwallis and continued his work. He moved frequently between British camps where the officers would speak openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, which he then delivered to other American spies. In this way, he relayed much information about the British's plans for troop deployment and their arms. The intelligence reports from his espionage were instrumental in helping defeat the British during the Battle of Yorktown.

1787

Although Virginia passed a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave by his or her owner, James Armistead remained the property of william Armistead. This was because a 1783 law specifically only freed slaves whose owners had used them as substitutes for army Service in exchange for their liberty. This was not the case for Armistead due to being a spy and not a soldier. However, in 1786, with the support of william Armistead – then a member of the House of Delegates – and a 1784 testimonial of his Service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. On January 9, 1787, the Assembly granted the petition. At that time, he chose to add "Lafayette" to his name to honor the general.

1818

Armistead continued to live in New Kent County with his new wife, one son and several other children and became a rich farmer . In 1818, he applied to the state legislature for financial aid; he was granted $60 for present relief and $40 annual pension for his services in the Revolutionary War.

1824

In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette returned to the United States at the invitation of President James Monroe. He made a tour of all 24 states, in which he was met by huge crowds and everywhere feted as a hero. While in Virginia, where he visited Washington's grave and gave a speech to the House of Delegates, he abruptly had his carriage stopped when he saw Armistead in the crowd and rushed to embrace him. At around this time, he also wrote a testimonial on Armistead's behalf.