This year marks the commencement of the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of the United States, including his journey along the nearby Cumberland River. As the tour continued into 1825, the “Guest of the Nation” traveled on the steamboat “Mechanic,” passed by Dover, and visited Clarksville and Nashville. Among the trip’s highlights was Lafayette’s visit to Andrew and Rachel Jackson at the Hermitage.

Lafayette, who helped America win its independence during the Revolutionary War, had expressed his desire to return to the United States for an extended visit. A successful tour would further his goal of promoting republican ideals for France. President James Monroe and the U.S. Congress extended an invitation for an official visit to all 24 states.

The anticipation of this tour reached Henry County in 1823 as a wooded site was selected as the new county seat. In tribute to Lafayette’s native capital city, the name “Paris” was chosen from a hat containing various suggestions for the new town. Consequently, Paris, Tennessee, became West Tennessee’s oldest incorporated municipality.

For more information about the meeting or the historical society, contact Webb at 731-336-8920 or webbdw@hotmail.com.

Lafayette 1825 portrait by Matthew Harris Jouett