Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau (French pronunciation: [ʁɔʃɑ̃bo]; 1 July 1725 – 10 May 1807) was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army. During the French Revolution, he commanded the Armée du Nord, but was arrested during the Reign of Terror and narrowly escaped the guillotine. He is considered to be one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America for his role in winning the Revolutionary War and securing American independence.