Deane, Silas

Silas Deane was born in Groton, Connecticut on December 24, 1737. He was

one of the earliest advocates of Revolutionary methods to secure the rights

of the colonists, and was a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental

Congress, 1774-76. In 1776 he was sent by congress to France as special

ambassador on a secret mission, which resulted in his securing substantial

loans from French capitalists and in inducing Lafayette, De Kalb and other

trained military officers of the French army, personally to take service in

the Continental army in the war against Great Britain. With Franklin and Lee

he negotiated the treaties of amity and commerce between the United

Colonies and France, as signed at Paris, Feb. 6. 1778. He was required by

congress to make a detailed statement of his financial transactions and in

order to do so was obliged to return to France in 1782 to obtain the

vouchers of his receipts and disbursements. In consequence of the

unauthorized publication of certain of his private letters and dispatches to

his brother which had been intercepted, the French government would not

receive him and he was obliged to seek refuge in Holland.

He then went to England where he died in poverty.

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