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Roderigue Hortalez and Company

February 15, 2024

Roderigue Hortalez and Company was a corporation created[1] by Luis de Unzaga as coordinator of interests of Spain and France in May[2] of 1775[3] in order to provide arms and financial assistance to American Revolutionaries in anticipation of the American Revolutionary War against Britain.[4] The ruse was organized by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a French playwright, watch-maker, inventor, musician, politician, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms-dealer, and revolutionary.[5] Weapons and materials were procured to help the Americans fight the British, enemies of France at the time, through the corporation.

Pierre Beaumarchais

Background edit

See also: French and Indian War

The Seven Years' War had gone badly for France, which had lost nearly all of her North American colonial possessions and had been militarily humiliated by the British. Spain, who had been an ally of France late in the war, had lost the strategically important territory of Florida. Britain, meanwhile, had expanded its colonial territories across large areas of North America.

To get out of legal trouble Pierre Beaumarchais pledged his services to the king in order to restore his civil rights.[6]

In 1774, Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes was appointed the foreign minister of France by Louis XVI. Vergennes was strongly anti-England, at one point declaring "England is the natural enemy of France."[4] His chance to strike at Britain came through Pierre Beaumarchais.

The company in operation edit

Beaumarchais, working as a secret agent, had traveled to London in pursuit of Chevalier d'Eon, a cross-dressing agent of Louis XVI, who had threatened the King with blackmail.[7] During that period Beaumarchais fell in with the dissolute crowd that surrounded John Wilkes, the Mayor of London. There he received a letter from the Continental Congress, delivered by Arthur Lee. In it Congress suggested to his government that it encourage the rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies by sending secret military aid disguised as a loan. Beaumarchais believed Britain's economy would be significantly crippled without the thirteen colonies. Louis XVI and Vergennes agreed. Both states were unwilling to openly show their support, at least until after the rebellion had successfully begun.[4]

Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, weapons and other necessities were already flowing via the ostensibly neutral Dutch island of St. Eustatius. Muskets, cannons, cannonballs, gunpowder, bombs, mortars, tents, and enough clothing for 30,000 men were sent. This assistance kept American hopes alive during the spring of 1776.[8]

Hortalez & Co. conducted business with the Americans from France through Connecticut merchant Silas Deane, who was sharing a covert trade agency with Thomas Morris the half-brother of Robert Morris (financier). Because this business did not include Arthur Lee, Lee then made it a point that Beaumarchais would never be paid for the goods he provided. He did this, not to harm Beaumarchais, but to deprive a political competitor his commission. As a result of Lee's actions, Deane lived in disgrace and poverty for years, and eventually died trying to prove that he was due the money.

In an August 16, 1777, letter from Lee to the "secrete committee of congress", he wrote of Beaumarchais that

This gentleman is not a merchant, but is known as a political agent, employed by the French Court. Remittances, therefore, to him, so far from covering the business, would create suspicions, or rather satisfy the British Court these suspicions are just. At the same time, his circumstances and situation forbid one to hope, that your property, being once in his hands, could ever be recovered; and, as an attempt to force him to account, would hazard a discover of the whole transaction, this government would, of course, discountenance or forbid it".[5]

Opposition edit

The only major opposition to the plan came from French minister of finance Baron Turgot. He insisted that American independence would occur whether or not France financed the rebellion.[4] He said the funding would add to the already heavy burden of a general French military and naval buildup and would lead to bankruptcy. Turgot eventually resigned in protest.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Cazorla, Frank, G. Baena, Rosa, Polo, David, Reder Gadow, Marion (2019). The governor Louis de Unzaga (1717-1793) Pioneer in the birth of the United States of America, Foundation. Malaga
  2. ^ Calleja, G. (2018) Spain Financially Sustained the Continental Congress and its Army during the American Revolutionary War. Iberdrola.
  3. ^ "XenophonGroup Page - Boende i Nice".
  4. ^ a b c d Jones, Howard (2002). Crucible of Power: A History of American Foreign Relations to 1913. Scholarly Resources Inc. p. 5. ISBN 0-8420-2916-8.
  5. ^ a b "H. Rept. 18-64 - Report of the select committee, to whom was referred the message of the President of the United States in relation to the representatives of the late Caron de Beaumarchais. February 16, 1824. Read: Ordered that it lie upon the table". GovInfo.gov. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  6. ^ Beaumarchais: The three Figaro plays, translation and notes by David Edney, Doverhouse, 2000.
  7. ^ Georges Édouard Lemaître. Beaumarchais. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1949
  8. ^ a b Jones, Crucible of Power. pp. 6

Further reading edit

  • Bass, Streeter. "Beaumarchais and the American Revolution." Studies in Intelligence 14 (1970): 1-1. CIA report 14 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  • Meng, John J. "A Footnote to Secret Aid in the American Revolution." American Historical Review (1938) 43#4 pp: 791-795. in JSTOR
  • Morton, Brian N. "'Roderigue Hortalez' to the Secret Committee: An Unpublished French Policy Statement of 1777." French Review (1977): 875-890. in JSTOR
  • Morton, Brian N. et Donald C. Spinelli, Beaumarchais Correspondances, tomes III et IV, Éditions A.-G. Nizet, Paris.
  • de Langlais Tugdual, L'armateur préféré de Beaumarchais Jean Peltier Dudoyer, de Nantes à l'Isle de France, Éd. Coiffard, 2015, 340 p. (ISBN 9782919339280).
  • Stillé, Charles J. "Beaumarchais and" The Lost Million"." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (1887) 11#1 pp: 1-36. in JSTOR
  • York, Neil L. "Clandestine Aid and the American Revolutionary War Effort: A Re-Examination." Military Affairs: The Journal of Military History, Including Theory and Technology (1979): 26-30. in JSTOR

February 15, 2024
roderigue, hortalez, company, corporation, created, luis, unzaga, coordinator, interests, spain, france, 1775, order, provide, arms, financial, assistance, american, revolutionaries, anticipation, american, revolutionary, against, britain, ruse, organized, pie. Roderigue Hortalez and Company was a corporation created 1 by Luis de Unzaga as coordinator of interests of Spain and France in May 2 of 1775 3 in order to provide arms and financial assistance to American Revolutionaries in anticipation of the American Revolutionary War against Britain 4 The ruse was organized by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais a French playwright watch maker inventor musician politician fugitive spy publisher arms dealer and revolutionary 5 Weapons and materials were procured to help the Americans fight the British enemies of France at the time through the corporation Pierre Beaumarchais Contents 1 Background 2 The company in operation 3 Opposition 4 References 5 Further readingBackground editSee also French and Indian War The Seven Years War had gone badly for France which had lost nearly all of her North American colonial possessions and had been militarily humiliated by the British Spain who had been an ally of France late in the war had lost the strategically important territory of Florida Britain meanwhile had expanded its colonial territories across large areas of North America To get out of legal trouble Pierre Beaumarchais pledged his services to the king in order to restore his civil rights 6 In 1774 Charles Gravier Comte de Vergennes was appointed the foreign minister of France by Louis XVI Vergennes was strongly anti England at one point declaring England is the natural enemy of France 4 His chance to strike at Britain came through Pierre Beaumarchais The company in operation editBeaumarchais working as a secret agent had traveled to London in pursuit of Chevalier d Eon a cross dressing agent of Louis XVI who had threatened the King with blackmail 7 During that period Beaumarchais fell in with the dissolute crowd that surrounded John Wilkes the Mayor of London There he received a letter from the Continental Congress delivered by Arthur Lee In it Congress suggested to his government that it encourage the rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies by sending secret military aid disguised as a loan Beaumarchais believed Britain s economy would be significantly crippled without the thirteen colonies Louis XVI and Vergennes agreed Both states were unwilling to openly show their support at least until after the rebellion had successfully begun 4 Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed weapons and other necessities were already flowing via the ostensibly neutral Dutch island of St Eustatius Muskets cannons cannonballs gunpowder bombs mortars tents and enough clothing for 30 000 men were sent This assistance kept American hopes alive during the spring of 1776 8 Hortalez amp Co conducted business with the Americans from France through Connecticut merchant Silas Deane who was sharing a covert trade agency with Thomas Morris the half brother of Robert Morris financier Because this business did not include Arthur Lee Lee then made it a point that Beaumarchais would never be paid for the goods he provided He did this not to harm Beaumarchais but to deprive a political competitor his commission As a result of Lee s actions Deane lived in disgrace and poverty for years and eventually died trying to prove that he was due the money In an August 16 1777 letter from Lee to the secrete committee of congress he wrote of Beaumarchais thatThis gentleman is not a merchant but is known as a political agent employed by the French Court Remittances therefore to him so far from covering the business would create suspicions or rather satisfy the British Court these suspicions are just At the same time his circumstances and situation forbid one to hope that your property being once in his hands could ever be recovered and as an attempt to force him to account would hazard a discover of the whole transaction this government would of course discountenance or forbid it 5 Opposition editThe only major opposition to the plan came from French minister of finance Baron Turgot He insisted that American independence would occur whether or not France financed the rebellion 4 He said the funding would add to the already heavy burden of a general French military and naval buildup and would lead to bankruptcy Turgot eventually resigned in protest 8 References edit Cazorla Frank G Baena Rosa Polo David Reder Gadow Marion 2019 The governor Louis de Unzaga 1717 1793 Pioneer in the birth of the United States of America Foundation Malaga Calleja G 2018 Spain Financially Sustained the Continental Congress and its Army during the American Revolutionary War Iberdrola XenophonGroup Page Boende i Nice a b c d Jones Howard 2002 Crucible of Power A History of American Foreign Relations to 1913 Scholarly Resources Inc p 5 ISBN 0 8420 2916 8 a b H Rept 18 64 Report of the select committee to whom was referred the message of the President of the United States in relation to the representatives of the late Caron de Beaumarchais February 16 1824 Read Ordered that it lie upon the table GovInfo gov U S Government Printing Office Retrieved 20 June 2023 Beaumarchais The three Figaro plays translation and notes by David Edney Doverhouse 2000 Georges Edouard Lemaitre Beaumarchais New York Alfred A Knopf 1949 a b Jones Crucible of Power pp 6Further reading editBass Streeter Beaumarchais and the American Revolution Studies in Intelligence 14 1970 1 1 CIA report Archived 14 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine Meng John J A Footnote to Secret Aid in the American Revolution American Historical Review 1938 43 4 pp 791 795 in JSTOR Morton Brian N Roderigue Hortalez to the Secret Committee An Unpublished French Policy Statement of 1777 French Review 1977 875 890 in JSTOR Morton Brian N et Donald C Spinelli Beaumarchais Correspondances tomes III et IV Editions A G Nizet Paris de Langlais Tugdual L armateur prefere de Beaumarchais Jean Peltier Dudoyer de Nantes a l Isle de France Ed Coiffard 2015 340 p ISBN 9782919339280 Stille Charles J Beaumarchais and The Lost Million The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 1887 11 1 pp 1 36 in JSTOR York Neil L Clandestine Aid and the American Revolutionary War Effort A Re Examination Military Affairs The Journal of Military History Including Theory and Technology 1979 26 30 in JSTOR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roderigue Hortalez and Company amp oldid 1161085997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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