| Show SUFFERED FOR HIS COUNTRY first am american alcan diplomat lily illy rewarded and his services long went unrecognized the first diplomatic agent of the united states was silas deane who was born at groton conn he became a merchant and was a delegate to the first continental congress in the spring of 1776 he was sent to france as a secret diplomatic agent he posed as a merchant from bermuda and upon his arrival in paris sought an interview with count de vergennes neB the minister tor for foreign affairs who refused to receive him deane was reduced to the direst pov ertrand ert yand was ejected by his landlady subsequent american ambassadors have hare complained of the lack of suitable embassies but deane was reduced to a point where he had to accept poor lodgings from a sympathetic French frenchman min eventually he was given art an audience with vergennes and began the diplomatic relations which eventually resulted in the french alliance in 1777 deane was recalled in the bitter controversy which followed his recall thomas paine revealed the fact that supplies furnished the colonies had been furnished by the french government a diplomatic indiscretion which cost paine his place as secretary of the committee on foreign affairs deane driven into poverty and exile died in england in 1789 halt half a century later his caal claim in for his services abroad was adjusted by congress and a large sum was waa paid to his heirs |
