| Birth: | Jan. 8, 1763, France | | Death: | Jul. 14, 1834
Schodack Center
Rensselaer County
New York, USA | 
French Revolutionary Diplomat. Called "Citizen" Genet. A child prodigy in foreign languages, he was appointed a translator for the French Royal Court at age 18, and was then posted to St. Petersburg, Russia. He grew disenchanted with monarchy as a form of government, however, and by 1792 was no longer welcome by Empress Catherine the Great. When the Girondists rose to power in France in 1793, he was appointed minister to the United States; this led 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. He finally arrived in Philadelphia on May 18, and continued similar actions which defied George Washington's neutrality proclamation of April 22. Thomas Jefferson, who was then Secretary of State, informed him that his actions were unacceptable, and demanded his recall. The Jacobins having taken power in France, Genet knew he would be executed upon his return and requested political asylum; this was granted by Washington, with the rare joint concurrence of Secretaries Jefferson and Hamilton (who had joined Washington in condemning his actions). He lived out his days as a New York farmer and author. (bio by: Bob Hufford)
Search Amazon for Edmond Genet | | | Burial:
Greenbush Reformed Church Cemetery
East Greenbush
Rensselaer County
New York, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 10, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 23891453 |
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