James Armistead aka James Lafayette

When we say African Americas, they are people residing in the United States of America and are additionally commonly referred to as Black Americans. They are referred to as such because they originated from any of the so-called black populations of the country Africa. We are aware, of course, that there are African Americans who have actually made remarkable contributions to different fields of profession, and what we would certainly like to impart is the fact that in the field of politics and government, we indeed have actually a long list of famous African Americans. In this list of famous African Americans, we would certainly want to profile the Patriot of the American Revolution, Mr. James Lafayette.

Anyone who has actually heard of James Lafayette would certainly not repudiate the fact that he is definitely included in the list of famous African Americans. He was James Armistead before he decided to change his surname to Lafayette. When he was still known as Armistead, he was a slave in the state of Virginia who was permitted to join the army of then U.S. President George Washington at the time of the American Revolution. The task of Armistead was to become one of the spies under the leadership of General Marquis de Lafayette. The intelligence of Armistead to spy on English General Charles Cornwallis impressed Lafayette, allowing the former to be assigned to pretend to be a laborer to continue spying on Cornwallis and his army based in Yorktown, Virginia. Armistead’s skills did not only impress Lafayette but additionally impressed English General Charles Cornwallis. Because of his exceptional abilities to impress people, he was additionally hired by Cornwallis to spy on Americans, thus, becoming a double agent. This allowed him to freely move from one camp to another.

The exceptional skills of James Armistead should definitely enable him to be included in the list of famous African Americans. In fact, there is more than merely becoming a double agent.

When he was acting as a double agent, James Armistead was able to provided General Marquis de Lafayette accurate details on the plans and capabilities of English General Charles Cornwallis and his army. This allowed General Marquis de Lafayette to defeat the latter in October 1781. Such war was remarkable as it resulted to the cessation of the American Revolution.

James Armistead, who is no-denying included in the list of famous African Americans, decided to return to his work as a slave after the war. When General Marquis de Lafayette visited the United States of America in 1784, he recommended Armistead to experience freedom, which was granted to the latter in 1787. From then on, James Armistead changed his surname to Lafayette. He became known as James Lafayette, a farmer in the state he had always been calling as his hometown.

The notable contribution of James Lafayette to the history of the United States of America should definitely include him in the list of fampus African Americans.