Final answer:
The person in question is James Armistead Lafayette, a spy and double agent during the American Revolution, who gained his freedom after the war with the help of the Marquis de Lafayette.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual you are asking about is James Armistead Lafayette, who served as a spy and double agent during the American Revolution. He remained a slave until 1787 when the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer, helped secure his freedom. Armistead played a crucial role in gathering intelligence that was instrumental in the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown.
He played a crucial role in providing vital information to the American forces, which contributed to the victory at the Battle of Yorktown. James was enslaved and only obtained his freedom after the war with the assistance of the Marquis de Lafayette, for whom he adopted his surname as a mark of gratitude.