Natural Born Citizen

Marquis de Lafayette was a French nobleman who famously served as a major general for the Continental Army in the American Revolution. His contributions were acknowledged - roughly two dozen states have towns named after him amongst a host of other honors. But the most impressive acknowledgment was when the state of Maryland passed a resolution in 1784 making Lafayette a "natural born citizen" of the state. The resolution also did the same for all of Lafayette's male heirs, extending to and beyond the present day.

In 1919, the New York Times debated whether this designation is constitutional as the power to define "natural born citizen" resides with Congress. But, as the Times notes, Maryland's grant of citizenship to Lafayette and his heirs predates the Constitution, and comes from a time when states were empowered to define who was a citizen.

Why is Lafayette's designation as a "natural born citizen" notable? Because the U.S. Constitution states, in part "[n]o person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President[.]"

Lafayette's male heirs -- whomever and wherever they may be -- have met the first prong required to be eligible to be President of the United States, in a manner unique to them.

Since the founding of America, Congress has granted honorary citizenship to seven individuals: Lafayette, Casimir Pulaski, Raoul Wallenberg, William Penn and his second wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn have received the honor posthumously. Two others were honored in this way while still alive: Mother Theresa and Winston Churchill.