Profile: James Armistead Lafayette

Overview:

James Armistead was born into slavery in Virginia around 1760. He was enslaved by William Armistead. During the American Revolution, he gained permission to join the fight in 1781. He served under the French General, Marquis de Lafayette, who used him as a spy. Armistead pretended to be a runaway slave and entered British camps. He then gained the trust of British leaders, including Charles Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold. James Armistead gathered intelligence about British military plans and troop movements, including information related to as many as 10,000 British troops involved in the Yorktown campaign. His reports helped American and French leaders trap British forces at Yorktown, contributing to a decisive victory that accelerated the end of the Revolutionary War and helped secure American independence. 

After the war, he was still enslaved until Lafayette helped him gain freedom. He later added “Lafayette” to his name to honor the French general. 

Quick Facts:

• Born around 1760 in Virginia

• Enslaved by William Armistead

• Served as a spy during the American Revolution

• Worked under Marquis de Lafayette

• Posed as a runaway slave to infiltrate British camps

• Gained trust of Charles Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold

• Helped secure victory at the Battle of Yorktown

• Freed in 1787 with help from Lafayette

• Added “Lafayette” to his name after gaining freedom

• Became a farmer and received a pension for his service

Why This Story Matters:

James Armistead Lafayette matters because his actions helped change the course of the American Revolution. His intelligence gathering gave American leaders key information about British plans which ultimately led to the defeat of the British at Yorktown and American independence. His story also shows that Black people played important roles in the fight for independence, even while they were denied freedom. Armistead risked his life by working behind enemy lines, knowing he could be killed if discovered. After the war, he still had to fight for his own freedom. His life reminds us that the fight for American independence included people who were not yet free, and whose contributions were often overlooked. 

Legacy:

James Armistead Lafayette’s legacy is one of courage, intelligence, and persistence. Even after helping win the war, he had to fight for his own freedom. With support from Lafayette, he was finally freed and later honored for his service. His story became an important example for later generations, especially during times when people questioned the role of Black Americans in the nation’s founding. Today, historians recognize him as one of the most successful spies of the American Revolution. His life reminds us that the fight for freedom has many layers, and that some of its heroes had to struggle for their own liberty even after helping create a new nation. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Who decides whose stories are remembered in history, and what happens when important people are excluded from the narrative? 

2. How would it feel to fight for a country’s freedom when you did not have the same freedoms as others? 

3. How might learning about James Armistead Lafayette and other Black patriots affect a Black student’s sense of belonging in American history?

Reflection Prompt:

1. How does learning that a Black man like James Armistead Lafayette helped secure freedom for a nation that did not yet grant him his own freedom challenge or reshape your understanding of American history?  

Sources & Further Reading:

1. "The Slave Spy Who Helped Save the American Revolution." Feature Article. History.com. 

2. "James’s Petition to the General Assembly, November 30, 1786." Petition Document. Library of Virginia. 

3.  "James Armistead Lafayette (1760–1832)." Biography Article. BlackPast, 2008. 

4. “James Armistead Lafayette.” Composite Image / Facsimile with Portrait Engraving. Portrait attributed to John Blennerhassett Martin, ca. 1824. Credit: White House Historical Association. 

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