John Laurens was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1755. His ancestors were Huguenots who came from France around the beginning of the 18th century. John was sent to London for higher education. The winds of war with Great Britain began to blow in 1775. His father, Henry Laurens, was the first President of the Continental Congress. Henry Laurens denied his son's repeated requests to leave law school at the Temple. John desperately wanted to return home to join in the fight for freedom from the English tyranny. Laurens could no longer control his yearning for independence. He made his way back to the colonies by sailing to France and thence to America aboard neutral ships.

Laurens yearned for a position on the staff of George Washington. Much to his dismay, Gen. Washington appointed him to be his personal secretary. He was given the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Laurens participated in the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Washington's forces had hoped to destroy the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, on October 3, 1777. The anticipated victory turned into a defeat with Col. Laurens being severely wounded. While recovering from his wounds Laurens spent the bitter winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. In a letter to his father, he questioned whether or not the army should winter there and leave the surrounding countryside to the pillaging of the British. In June of 1778, he participated in the decisive Battle of Monmouth. It was at Monmouth where Molly Pitcher became the most famous woman soldier in American history. The battle was also important in the relationships between Washington's generals. General Charles Lee failed to act, causing the loss of many lives. Col. Laurens recommended to his father, President of the Congress, that Lee be tried for misconduct. Lee made insulting remarks about Laurens's best friend, Alexander Hamilton. Laurens challenged Lee to a duel. The honor of Laurens and Hamilton was upheld when Lee was slightly wounded in the fight. Over two decades later Hamilton would lose his life in a duel with Aaron Burr.

On August 30, 1778, Laurens took command of a regiment in the Rhode Island Campaign. Early that morning Laurens and Livingston launched an attack on the head of the British column on the road between Butts Hill, Turkey Hill, and Quaker Hill. Laurens and his men fought gallantly but were turned back by a superior British force. The commanding general, Nathaniel Greene, complimented Laurens on his actions calling him a "general and a partisan."

During the second half of 1778, the British launched a second campaign to capture the Southern Colonies. Savannah fell to the British on December 29, 1778. Laurens was granted permission to leave Washington's army to defend his homeland. He took part in the defense against Prevost's attack on Charleston in May of 1779. On October 9th, 1779, Gen. Lincoln led an attack on Savannah. His forces were supported by the French and by Count Casimir Pulaski's cavalry. The main attack came from the southwestern section of Savannah. Pulaski charged toward the British right. He received a mortal wound. The attack floundered. Laurens, in command of the light infantry, led his South Carolinians against the British Springhill redoubt. Laurens, at the head of the attack, moved into the ditch and planted his flag in the berm. The British relentlessly slaughtered the Americans in the ditch. Laurens ordered his men to retreat. The attempt to recapture Savannah failed. The city remained in British hands until July 11, 1782, nearly nine months after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

The Colonial army retreated inland and moved to defend Charleston, the next target of the British. By February, the British were making demonstrations about Charleston. Laurens wrote to Gen. Washington asking for reinforcements. He told Washington that it would be good if he himself would come and rescue the city of Charleston. The British, with their superior naval power, were too much for the defenders. The city fell on May 6, 1780. Most of the Colonials were captured. Col. Laurens was taken prisoner but was shortly exchanged for a British officer.

Congress realized that in order to defeat the British, more naval support would be needed. The British had stopped the French fleet at Newport. Gen. Washington recommended that Laurens be a special emissary to King Louis of France. Laurens was described by a 19th century historian as "a born courtier and has having polished manners, a figure that would grace the company of kings, and more over, he spoke French like a Parisian." Laurens, being fearless and self reliant, was known to be a dominating presence among men. Gen. Lafayette sent a letter to Count de Vergennes. Lafayette described Laurens as "a man who, by his integrity, frankness, and patriotism, must be extremely acceptable to the government." Laurens' mission was to convince the French to increase their support of the colonies with men, material, and especially money. Lafayette concluded his letter stating that 10,000 Frenchmen would be appreciated. By then Henry Laurens, the Ambassador to Holland, was held as a prisoner in the tower of London. John Laurens returned to Boston. His mission being a success, Laurens reported to Colonial government that European support was on the increase and that he had secured a substantial amount of monetary support.

Col. Laurens once again was assigned to Gen. Washington's staff. All of the criticism of Washington and his generals came to an end on October 19, 1781. Lord Cornwallis and his grand army were captured on the Virginia peninsula at Yorktown. Col. Laurens was appointed to arrange the terms of the surrender. He was among the first to enter the British lines as a commissioner to receive the surrender. The surrender did not end the war. The British were still in control of Savannah and Charleston. Laurens was sent to aid Gen. Greene. Laurens got out of his sick bed to lead a detachment against a British foraging party near Combachee, South Carolina. The day was August 27, 1782. Col. Laurens, leading the charge against the British, was struck by a musket ball. He fell mortally wounded.

The story of Col. John Laurens doesn't dominate the history books. Historians fail to mention his name among the heroes of the revolution. His is a story of a young man who loved his country. His actions in France during the "dark days" of 1781 directly led to the American victory at Yorktown and the eventual defeat of the British Army. On December 10, 1807, the State of Georgia honored Col. Laurens by naming its newest county, Laurens County, in his honor.