He arrived in Charleston
South Carolina, instead of Philadelphia because the Captain of the
French frigate he was traveling in wanted to avoid battle with the
more powerful British men-of-war rumored to be cruising off the month
of Delaware bay. But immediately France's new Minister
Plenipotentiary to the United States of America began acting in some
very undiplomatic ways.
Edmond Charles Genet,
carrying the title of “Citizen” from the new
revolutionary government in France was expected, by protocol, to go
directly to New York (then the seat of government) to present his
credentials to President George Washington. But instead, he lingered
in South Carolina basking in the adulation of the local notables.
Ever since the people of France had over thrown their King and
produced their Declaration of the Rights
of Man, many Americans eagerly awaited developments in
France, feeling with some justification, America had inspired
France's democratic revolution, and anticipating that France might be
on the cutting edge of a democratic movement that might sweep the
world. And Genet was the perfect celebrity guest. Handsome, urbane,
cultured and gracious, to a fault, he was the European,
democratic-man-of-the-enlightenment, everyone wanted to meet. In
some ways he was almost the European counterpart of America's Ben
Franklin, who had charmed the French court, a generation before.
Having completed a round of balls, receptions and banquets in his
honor, in Charleston, the French diplomat continued what amounted to
a celebrity tour up the coast and into Virginia.
In New York, the President
waited with some impatience and irritation, in part because he knew
Genet's mission was ultimately to try to involve the U.S. in the
developing war against Britain. More alarmingly, reports began to
arrive of Genet's activities in the South that made him seem more
like an agent provocateur, than a diplomat! Genet was reported to be
contracting for ships to be outfitted as French privateers to operate
out of American ports to attack British shipping and he was
recruiting American crews to man these ships. Also, Genet was
encouraging French-leaning Americans to form “Democratic-Republican
clubs”, something on the order of the political clubs that were now
contending for power in France, to oppose the President.
By the time Citizen Genet
finally arrived in New York, President Washington was thoroughly
vexed with him, refusing first to see him, then lecturing him on
his behavior. Genet found the rest of the government aligned against
him as well. Even Thomas Jefferson, who had traveled south to meet
with Genet, now distanced himself from the French diplomat.
Given the cold shoulder in
New York, Genet's fortunes turned against him in France as well. The
Girondist club of moderates were muscled from power by the Jacobins
and men like Marat and Robespierre began what became known as the
“reign of terror”. Genet watched with increasing uneasiness as
most of his political friends followed the aristocracy up the steps
to their appointment with Dr. Guillotine's machine. The blow came
when Genet received a sharply worded letter from the
Jacobin government
condemning his lack of success in America and ordering him home.
His career in shambles, and
his life in jeopardy, Edmond Genet turned to the man who had done the
most to frustrate his objectives and had eventually even petitioned the French
government requesting his recall. George Washington consulted his
cabinet. They agreed from Thomas Jefferson, the francophile, to
Alexander Hamilton who distrusted the French and hated the succession
of increasingly radical French governments, that Citizen Genet be
given political asylum – one of the first granted by the young
United States government.
While Genet's schemes and
projects had failed him, ultimately his charm would not. With what
he could salvage of his fortune, and recoup from the sale of his
furnishings, horse and carriage, and perhaps with help from friends
and admirers, Genet was able to buy a small farm on Long Island.
From there his social contacts led him to Miss Cornelia Tappen
Clinton, the twenty year old daughter of His Excellency, George
Clinton, First Governor of New York State. Acquaintance was followed by
courtship; courtship was followed by marriage. The Genets would move
into a farm carved out of the East Manor of
Rensselaerwyck, called Prospect Hill, near the village of Greenbush. There
Genet would retire to the life of a gentleman farmer, apply for U.S.
Citizenship, and write pamphlets on a variety scientific and
technical subjects.
Marker of the Week
 | |||
| 1st Mince Meat (Dougherty Mincemeat Co/Located here,Patent By Dr Julius Allen of Port/Byron, Factory Burned 1885/ Patent Voided 1895) |
Mincemeat factory was.
You may not know what's in Mincemeat.
You might not know what to do with Mincemeat. (esp. if you were born after 1960)
(Port Byron/diced meat(mutton is traditional), suet, diced apples, raisins, currents, brandy, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg,and clove /Bake it in holiday pies-originally in a Christ cradle shape)
Now you do.
E-Mail
Me:
If you have comments about Citizen Genet, Mincemeat, this blog or any other thing
having to do with NYSHM's I would be delighted to hear from you. I
would be especially interested if you know of any new or interesting
markers or can report on any efforts to restore old markers. My
email is
Next Week: Caution -- Fragile Signs Ahead !
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