Public lecture coincides with Hermione’s visit to Newport
Philippe Bouthet du Rivault, an officer for the French General Transatlantic Company, will present a lecture titled “The 21st Century Hermione: Facing the Challenges” at 1 p.m. Friday, July 10 in the DiStefano Lecture Hall.
The lecture, which will be presented in English, is being held in conjunction with the July 8-9 visit to Newport Harbor of the replica Hermione to commemorate its important role in the American Revolution 235 years ago.
The 1779 Hermione achieved fame by ferrying Gen. Lafayette to the United States in 1780 to allow him to rejoin the American side during the Revolutionary War. In April, Hermione started her return voyage to the United States with a mission to reaffirm the relationship between the U.S. and France.
In the first joint French and American operation of the Revolutionary War, a French fleet arrived in Newport in July 1778. From July 1780 to September 1781, Gen. Rochambeau’s French Army was based in Newport, until the March to Victory in Yorktown, Va. Lafayette served in Newport as a liaison between Rochambeau and Washington.
After departing Newport, the ship will make stops in Boston; Castine, Maine; and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia before returning to port in Rochefort, France.
Photo by Pline via Wikimedia Commons
