Genet

EDOUARD CHARLES GENET (1763-1834):

First minister of the French Republic to the United States. Born Versailles

in 1763, ninth and last child (only son) of Marie Anne Louis Cardon and Edme

Jacques Genet, for many yrs 'premier commis' of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs at Versailles. Family moved in higher eschelons of Parisian society:

knew philosophes and Benjamin Franklin; four talented sisters were appointed

to posts of honour in household of Marie-Antoinette and oldest, Henrietta,

became celebrated later as Madame Campan, first lady-in-waiting to the

Queen.

Two only other sons of Genets had died in infancy: when pregant for ninth

and last time, mother promised in prayer that if boy he wd wear only white

for first five yrs of life - he was, and so Genet dressed entirely in white

from head to toe for first five years: made him noticed everywhere from

first. Genet a precocious child - given best education under tutors and

father; particularly gifted in languages, and at age of 12 gained

recognition in Sweden, France and English for his translations from Swedish

into French. (Given gold medal from King of Sweden for translation of

'History of Reign of Eric XIV'). At 14 he was made secretary in his father's

office, where he translated for father's journal 'Anglo-American Affairs'

many of the documents (many by Franklin) of the American Revolution - here

began nascent republicanism. In 1780, Genet studied for six months at

Giessen, and another six months in Berlin studying law, and then wen to

Vienna in secretariat of Baron de Breteuil. Returned to Paris in 1781, aged

19, and assumed office left vacant by death of his father (big salary,

40,000 livres).

Now in French foreign office, came again into contact with affairs of new

American Republic - later said that it was he who bore to Vergennes tidings

of surrender of Cornwallis. In 1783, Genet was sent to England as acting

secretary of legation with Count de Moustier to secure information useful to

planned commercial treaty between GB and France. Years spent in England

(1783-87) were very happy: made many intellectual, liberal friendships, plus

v. interested in new applications of steam to industry and agriculture -

also studied agriculture and botany, mineralogy and scientific expeditions.

While away, also kept up correspondence with such liberal intellectuals as

La Rochefoucauld and Condorcet.

In 1787 Vergennes died and following retrenchement meant Genet's bureau

abolished. However, friends at French court secured him appointment as

secretary to the Comte de Segur, minister to the court of Catherine II the

Great, and therefore travelled to Russia in early autumn 1787, after

stopping off at Warsaw on way and being introduced to King Stanislaus

Poniatowski. Thus, by time was 25, Genet had made rounds of the most

important courts of Europe. With outbreak of French Revolution in 1789,

Segur quitted post as French ambassador (charge d'affaires), and Genet given

post in his place at St. Petersburg. However, his republicanism made him

obnoxious to Catherine II, and he was soon forbidden to appear at court and

put under surveillance. Then, on news of events of 20 June 1792, he was

formally expelled from Russia; arrived in Paris August 1792, and was

enthusiasically welcomed by Girondin govt., which had been in power since

recent arrest of Louis XVI. In service of French Republic, Genet first sent

on temporary mission to Geneva, then (19 Nov 1792) was appointed minister

plenipotentiary to the United States - however, he was held in Paris by

Girondists til day of King's execution in January 1793, in hope that Louis

XVI and his family cd be sent to America with Genet. With execution, GB

joined coalition of monarchies at war with French Republic.

Genet arrived at Charleston, S.C. in April 1793 as French minister to U.S.:

was feted by several high dignitaries, fitted out four privateers in

Charleston (with view to Spanish expedition), and then made six-week journey

to Philadelphia, stopping off for series of public meetings at Camden,

Salisbury, Richmond and Baltimore, where received enthusiasm from public for

French cause. However, he quickly perceived that there was big drive for

peace in U.S. administration, and that France cd not expect active American

participation in war on side of French, but did expect to press right of

France under treatises of 1778 - ie same kind of treatment that France

accorded Americans during their struggle for independence. Genet's broad aim

therefore to renegotiate 1778 treaty that declared the U.S. to be France's

ally and committed it to defend French possessions in West Indies - in order

to: recoup some part of America's war debt in return for generous trade

concessions; to outfit privateers in American ports to harass British ships;

and issue commissions for an expedition against Spanish Florida and

Louisiana.

However, when Genet arrived in Philadelphia (then capital), was greeted

cooly by President George Washington. Before his arrival, American

obligations to France under 1778 treaty under intense debate - Washington at

first approved of French Rev., but with execution of Louis and exile of

Lafayette was now against. Treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton sympathetic

to monarchies, plus opposed to measures that might damage Anglo-American

trade, so insisted that execution of king invalidated treaty. However,

Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson who v. pro French Rev. argued that

treaties made between nations not sovereigns, and was therefore valid.

Genet's arrival meant decision had to be made: Washington agreed to receive

him, but issued a proclamation fo neutrality in European conflict.

Genet therefore found Washington cold, but Jefferson v. friendly, until

latter realized that G. intended to carry on with outfitting of privateers

despite presidential ban, as G. believed that American people behind him on

this issue, not Washington. Meanwhile, during early summer, Genet

determinedly carrying out orders, despite demands of U.S. administration:

e.g. he sent the botanist Andre Michaux to Kentucky to meet with disaffected

Americans and organize expedition led by Clark down the Mississippi to take

Louisiana from Spain; in South Carolina he worked with aid of dissatisfied

leaders such as Stephen Drayton and Alexander Moultrie to take Florida from

Spain; and when French fleet left Santo Domingo and arrived in New York, he

planned to send it to recapture St. Pierre and Miquelon for France, and to

help his emissary Henri Mezieres stir up a revolt in Canada. However, these

plans aborted by mutiny in the fleet, activities of the hostile South

Carolina legislature against Drayton and Moultrie, and lack of funds to

enable Clark to start expedition down the Mississippi.

By July 1793, Genet was storm centre of American politics, and his

activities were now greatly irritating even Jefferson and other Republican

supporters. Final straw came when he outfitted a captured British ship as a

privateer and allowed it to sail from Philadelphia against the British.

Following heavy displeasure from U.S. administration, Genet then threatened

to appeal directly to the American people, and at this Washington requested

to France that the minister be recalled. Following news of his recall in

August, Genet increased his activities, but to no avail - tide now turned in

Washington's favour. Nevertheless, his many efforts to raise public concern

over this issue had stimulated the organization of lcoal clubs, variously

termed Democratic or Republican societies, that soon radiated into almost

every state. These became vehicles for expression of local grievances and

contributed increasingly to articulation of the growing Republican party -

were Genet's real, though unwitting, bequest to democratic movement.

Genet's successor, Joseph Fauchet, arrived in February 1794 with warrant for

Genet's arrest: probably, if had returned to France, Jacobins now in power

wd have had him executed. However, was instead granted asylum in U.S., and

in November 1794 he married Cornelia Tappen Clinton, daughter of Governor

George Clinton of New York, and bought a small farm on Long Island.

Eventually became a U.S. citizen, and in 1800 moved to farm in Rensselaer

County, N.Y. where spent three decades in not always calm retirement.

Avoided politics, instead busying himself with farming, scientific

agricultural studies, and industrial mechanics - e.g. published unworkable

schemes for powered balloons and for using hydraulic power to haul barges

over hills. In 1810 Cornelia died, and four yrs later he married Martha

Brandon Osgood, daughter of Samuel Osgood, former postmaster-general of the

U.S. In his unfinished memoirs, he blamed Jefferson for his diplomatic

failures, and on coming to power of Louis Philippe in France, he tried to

secure some renumerative appointment for him in America, but no luck. He

died in Schodack, N.Y. in July 1834.

Only George Clinton Interest:

Was thoroughly careful, conservative type fellow I'm afraid - took few

chances, little colour. Only thing I cd find was that in 1790 he bought

Greenwich Farm Estate on Hudson from notorious printer and bookseller, James

Rivington (then in bad financial state), who 10 yrs previously had been

anathema to all good patriots. Clintons loved house there, but in 1805 he

sold half estate to John Jacob Astor for $75,000, and together Clinton and

Astor entered into partnership that entailed laying out streets and

neighbourhoods and the sale of individual lots - start of Greenwich Village.