John Laurens

John Laurens 1754-82, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Charleston, S.C.; son of Henry Laurens. In 1777 he joined George Washington's staff as a volunteer aide-de-camp, fought at Brandywine and in subsequent battles, and was promoted (1779) to lieutenant colonel in recognition of his bravery and ability. The intemperate criticism of Washington by Charles Lee caused Laurens to challenge Lee and fight an inconclusive duel. Going to the South, Laurens was captured (1780) when the British took Charleston, but was soon exchanged. In 1781 he was sent on a special and successful mission to France to procure money, arms, and supplies. He showed conspicuous gallantry in the Yorktown campaign and drew up the terms for the surrender of General Cornwallis. He accompanied Nathanael Greene on a mopping-up campaign in the Carolinas and was killed in a minor skirmish.

Bibliography: See his Army Correspondence, 1777-78 (1867, repr. 1969); biography by D. D. Wallace (1915, repr. 1967).

Laurens, John (1754–82) Revolutionary War officer, born outside Charleston, South Carolina. Laurens was aide-de-camp to George Washington, whom he served as secretary and translator to French allies. He fought at Brandywine and Germantown (both 1777), Monmouth (1778), and later, when the British invaded the South, in Georgia and his native South Carolina (1779). In 1781 Laurens, who was fluent in French, traveled to France and successfully negotiated for money for military supplies by avoiding the diplomatic route and going directly to Louis XVI. Later that same year he took part in the siege of Yorktown, leading a difficult bayonet attack on British fortifications and afterwards taking part in negotiating the British surrender.