Editing Havre de Grace, Maryland (section)

=== Early history ===
During the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the small hamlet known as Harmer's Town was visited several times by General [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette|Lafayette]], who became considered a hero of the war. He commented that the area reminded him of the French seaport of [[Le Havre]] on the English Channel. It had originally been named ''Le Havre-de-Grâce''. Inspired by Lafayette's comments, the residents incorporated the town as ''Havre de Grace'' in 1785.

[[George Washington]] stayed overnight in the town in 1789 on the journey to [[New York City]] for his [[First inauguration of George Washington|first inauguration]]. During the [[1st United States Congress|First Congress in 1789]], Havre de Grace missed by only one vote being named the capital of the fledgling [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cecildaily.com/our_cecil/article_b615334b-bacc-5bd7-b3e1-2e834d486817.html|title=Havre de Grace came close to the capital 224 years ago|work=cecildaily.com|date=December 23, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2009/03/06/havre-de-grace-maryland-2/|title=Havre de Grace, Maryland|work=baltimoresun.com|date=March 6, 2009 }}</ref>