John Laurens (1754-1782)
Revolutionary War Colonel;
Aide to General Washington;
Congressional Envoy to France
John Laurens was born on October 28, 1754. Later he was enrolled in England in Rev. Richard Clark's School at Islington. In October 1776, he married Martha Manning without the consent of their fathers. She died in France the following year.
In 1777, he joined George Washington as an aide-de-camp. He also served as a liaison officer between French and American forces in the summer of 1778.
Laurens was characterized as progressive and
audacious.
He urged emancipation as early as 1776. John
Laurens public service was extolled by fellow
Southerners
who called him the "Bayard of the
Revolution." In essence, this meant "one
without fear and without reproach."
This page last updated: 8/12/02 4:13 PM