Historedia
Person

Silas Deane

Events
3
Episodes
11
Years
1776–1778

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Silas Deane, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Lafayette Lands in South Carolina

    1776–1777

    Role: American agent who enlisted Lafayette as a major general

    1. December 7, 1776 · Paris negotiationsEnlistment by Silas Deane

      After negotiations between American agents and the French court, Silas Deane enlisted Lafayette as a major general on December 7, 1776.

    2. March 25 – April 26, 1777 · Pauillac, on the GirondeVoyage Aboard the Victoire

      Lafayette joined the Victoire, which sailed from Pauillac on the Gironde and departed for America on April 26, 1777.

    3. June 13, 1777 · North Island, near Georgetown, South CarolinaLanding Near Georgetown

      Lafayette landed on North Island near Georgetown, South Carolina, on June 13, 1777, arriving to serve the American cause.

    4. July 31, 1777 · Continental CongressCongressional Commission

      After Lafayette offered to serve without pay, Congress commissioned him a major general on July 31, 1777.

  2. Lafayette's Attempt to Join the American Army

    1776–1777

    Role: American agent who enlisted Lafayette as a major general

    1. December 7, 1776 · site of Deane's enlistment of Lafayette (not specified in sources)Silas Deane enlists Lafayette as a major general

      On December 7, 1776, American agent Silas Deane enlisted the nineteen-year-old Lafayette as a major general, though he initially received no American troops to command.

    2. July 31, 1777 · site of Congress's commission (not specified in sources)Congressional commission after arrival in America

      After Lafayette offered to serve without pay, Congress commissioned him a major general on July 31, 1777, formalizing the rank Deane had granted.

  3. Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France

    1778

    Role: American commissioner and signatory

    1. February 6, 1778 · Paris, site of the treaty signingSigning of the Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce

      American commissioners and a French envoy signed both treaties in Paris on February 6, 1778, formalizing a defensive alliance and commercial relations.

    2. February 6, 1778 · Paris, where the alliance treaty was concludedTerms of the Treaty of Alliance

      The defensive alliance guaranteed French military support if commercial and diplomatic ties provoked hostilities with Britain, and allowed Spain to join.

    3. February 6, 1778 · Paris, site of the commercial treaty's signingTreaty of Amity and Commerce: recognition and trade rights

      The Treaty of Amity and Commerce established diplomatic and commercial relations, with France the first nation to formally recognize U.S. sovereignty.

    4. March 13, 1778 · Franco-British diplomatic ruptureFrance notifies Britain; Britain declares war

      France informed Britain of the treaties on March 13, 1778; Britain declared war four days later, bringing France into the American Revolutionary War.

    5. May 2 – September 1, 1778 · United States Congress and FranceRatification and congressional action

      Congress received the signed text on May 2, 1778, ratified it unanimously on May 4, and France ratified on July 16, 1778.

Sources

  1. Marquis de Lafayette Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
  2. Treaty of Alliance (1778) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-15