French Revolutionary Diplomat. Calling himself "Citizen" Genet", he led a controversial mission to the United States in the early days of independence. The child of a minor Court official, he was a prodigy in foreign languages, was appointed a translator for the French Royal Court at age 18, and was soon posted to St. Petersburg, Russia. Genet grew disenchanted with monarchy as a form of government and by 1792 his brash manner had made him unwelcome at the Court of Empress Catherine the Great. When the Girondists rose to power in France in 1793 he was appointed Minister to the United States leading to the "Citizen Genet Affair". He landed in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 8, 1793, and instead of traveling to Philadelphia as planned he stayed in South Carolina recruiting and arming American privateers and militia to fight for France against England and Spain. Genet finally arrived in Philadelphia on May 18th. having done more recruiting along the way and there continued similar actions in open defiance of George Washington's neutrality proclamation of April 22nd. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson informed him that his actions and blatant arrogance were unacceptable and demanded his recall, while in a rare concurrance both Jefferson and Hamilton supported Washington's letter condemning the Ambassador. The Jacobins having taken power in France, Genet knew he would be executed upon his return home and requested political asylum which was granted by Washington on a recommendation that had to have made Hamilton choke, Jefferson missing the end-game by having left office a few days earlier. Citizen Genet had sense enough to cease his difficult ways and lived out his days as a prosperous New York farmer and author.
French Revolutionary Diplomat. Calling himself "Citizen" Genet", he led a controversial mission to the United States in the early days of independence. The child of a minor Court official, he was a prodigy in foreign languages, was appointed a translator for the French Royal Court at age 18, and was soon posted to St. Petersburg, Russia. Genet grew disenchanted with monarchy as a form of government and by 1792 his brash manner had made him unwelcome at the Court of Empress Catherine the Great. When the Girondists rose to power in France in 1793 he was appointed Minister to the United States leading to the "Citizen Genet Affair". He landed in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 8, 1793, and instead of traveling to Philadelphia as planned he stayed in South Carolina recruiting and arming American privateers and militia to fight for France against England and Spain. Genet finally arrived in Philadelphia on May 18th. having done more recruiting along the way and there continued similar actions in open defiance of George Washington's neutrality proclamation of April 22nd. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson informed him that his actions and blatant arrogance were unacceptable and demanded his recall, while in a rare concurrance both Jefferson and Hamilton supported Washington's letter condemning the Ambassador. The Jacobins having taken power in France, Genet knew he would be executed upon his return home and requested political asylum which was granted by Washington on a recommendation that had to have made Hamilton choke, Jefferson missing the end-game by having left office a few days earlier. Citizen Genet had sense enough to cease his difficult ways and lived out his days as a prosperous New York farmer and author.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
See more Genet memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
