James Armistead Lafayette — The Enslaved Spy Who Helped Win the Revolution 

Enslaved Spy • Revolutionary Patriot • Freedom Fighter

These three images connect James Armistead Lafayette’s story to the places and ideals that have kept his service in the American Revolution alive. The first presents him as a figure of courage and intelligence, while the Yorktown Battlefield sign anchors his story to the landscape where the information he gathered helped turn the war toward its decisive conclusion. The statue brings that story into the present: a man who began his life in slavery now stands in a place of honor in the nation’s capital, with his statue installed in Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C., for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Together, the images move from the man, to the battlefield, to his enduring legacy—a story of service, freedom, and remembrance. 

Overview:

James Armistead (ca. 1748 -1830) was enslaved in Virginia 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. 

Historical note: Sources differ on James Armistead Lafayette’s birth and death dates. Before1964 uses approximately 1748–1830, while some sources, including BlackPast, report different dates. The dates shown here should therefore be understood as approximate. 

Quick Facts:

• Born around 1748 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

• Died around 1830

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. 

Primary Source Spotlight: James Lafayette's 1818 Pension Petition

Nearly four decades after the Revolutionary War, James Lafayette petitioned the Virginia General Assembly for a pension in connection with this military service. In the petition, he described his wartime service, his age, and his declining ability to support himself through labor. The request provides a rare opportunity to hear James describe his own service and circumstances in his own words. His petition was successful: Virginia granted him immediate assistance and an annual pension 

James Armistead  (alias James Lafayette), “Petition,” December 28, 1818. Document. Library of Virginia, Virginia Memory. Website.

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. 

5. James (alias James Lafayette). “Petition.” December 28, 1818. Document. Library of Virginia, Virginia Memory. Website.

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