Last month, the French arrived in Newport’s Washington Square thanks to the Newport Historical Society (NHS), in collaboration with the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary National Historical Trail. Historical 18th-century re-enactors took over the square to give demonstrations of woodworking and cider making. There were Colonial tea tastings (the Peach was my favorite), others got their Colonial silhouette portraits made, families tried on Colonial ware, and the Middlesex County Fife & Drum Corps provided musical concerts throughout the day.
If you haven’t had a chance to experience this delightful event yet, I urge anyone to come out in mid-July next year when NHS usually puts it on, utilizing Colony House as well as Washington Square. It goes on whether rain or shine and there really is nothing like seeing history come to life such as this. Next year’s event takes place during the 250th anniversary of America’s birth and NHS is promising to pull out all the stops for a fantastic celebration.
What makes “French in Newport” truly special are the two re-enactors who play General Rochambeau (Sean O’Brien) and the Marquis de Lafayette (Ben Goldman). All the events really center around them, and nothing put this to the test best than an interview with the two historical figures by NHS’s Executive Director, Rebecca Bertrand, inside Colony House. She treated the two of them to a “mock” therapy session this time around, which she clearly had the time of her life hosting.
“Today we’re going to create a safe space for you to talk about your shared experiences,” Bertrand said, setting the scene with heart and humor in front of a rapt, packed crowd. She cheekily continued: “There are no right or wrong answers here, so we just want you to have an opportunity to have some honest reflections.”
What followed was an amusing but informative dialogue that highlighted the challenges these men faced during the Revolution, while allowing the audience to connect to history in a personal and unexpectedly entertaining way. Some of the highlights from the session included the following charming bits.
Lafayette (Goldman), who was born in 1757 in the Auvergne Province, told the audience that he was in his 260’s, which he explained jokingly, “you know what they say, 260 is the new 240.”
Lafayette also expressed his deep affection for George Washington, whom he described as a “father figure,” telling those in attendance that his biological father had died when he was two years old. He described the initial fond respect he and Washington had for each other at the outset, saying, “I think perhaps we each saw in each other something that we yearned for in our lives.
“When I met General Washington for the first time, one of the first things we did was review the troops in Philadelphia, and he turned to me with some embarrassment in his voice and said, ‘My dear Marquis, it is clear that you have wanted to teach us.’ And I told him, ‘Your Excellency, I have not come here to teach, but rather to learn.’ And this did two things: First, I think it set me apart from the other European volunteers who presented themselves more as soldiers of fortune, did not have any personal stake in the outcome of this revolution, but it also showed a willingness in humility to follow this example. I have endured for the rest of my life to follow His Excellency.”
General Rochambeau (O’Brien) described a different kind of friendship revolution with Washington, describing his initial reaction: “There is a certain degree of humility it requires of oneself to subordinate oneself to a man who’s younger than you, less experienced than you, but that was what my orders were to do, and so that is what I did.”
Their relationship soon grew into a more nuanced collaboration during the war. “You might say that I was ordered to be his perfect lieutenant, his perfect aide, and that was my duty, and that is what I saw fit to do. And as a result, we got along rather well, despite the occasional moment of disagreement, also coupled with the language barrier.”
Goldman’s Lafayette expressed his impassioned feeling towards American independence: “I felt that the wellbeing of all mankind rested upon the success or failure of the American Revolution.”
To further underscore this point, he eloquently added, “And so when people ask how you left behind this comfortable life of a nobleman in Paris, for me, it was not a comfortable life. It was a luxurious life, but it was not a comfortable life. I have found myself very comfortable here in the comparative equality of America.”
Both re-enactors discussed tactical strategies employed during the revolution as well as their support for French revolutionary activity in their native land, despite the quite different outcome. “The ideals of the revolution itself would stay with me,” said O’Brien’s Rochambeau. “When I returned to France in 1789, at the start of our own French Revolution, I was a supporter of that revolution.”
Throughout the day both re-enactors were also on hand to answer questions about their historical experiences and life during Colonial times and the American Revolution. Watching O’Brien and Goldman effortlessly recall all these historical anecdotes with the public was truly a marvel to witness.
According to NHS, this year’s event brought in record attendance. Next year’s date is set for July 11, 2026, a special celebration for America250.
“French in Newport” is part of a nationwide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. NHS kicked off its landmark efforts in the celebration with an innovative exhibit, “Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On?” earlier this year at the Richard I. Burnham Resource Center, a show that explores American Revolutionary conflict from the perspectives of Loyalists as well as Patriots, illustrated with detailed historical documents and media. The exhibit runs through December.
Further RI Revolution250 events will include Tavern Talks, several living history walking tours specific to Newport’s outsized role in the Revolution, and further programming to be announced.NHS also hosted its big fundraiser on July 25, The Newport Show preview party, at St. George’s School Ice Rink, one of the highlights of the summer social season. The Newport Show—a joint fundraiser with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County—has raised a record $4.75M over the years for both organizations, which helps with programming, especially important in such a landmark year.
