The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793
February 27 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Omohundro Institute Vast Early America Lecture Series
The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793
André Michaux was one of the most experienced explorers of North America before Lewis and Clark. He traveled widely, from the Bahamas to Hudson Bay, probably seeing more of the continent than anyone else of his time. But his story doesn’t end there. During his ten years in America, Michaux became involved in a major international conspiracy. In 1793, the revolutionary French government secretly recruited him to organize American frontiersmen to attack New Orleans (which was controlled by Spain), take over Louisiana, and set up an independent republic in the American West.
Surprisingly, Thomas Jefferson was connected to this plot. Using documents stored at the American Philosophical Society, historian Patrick Spero reveals how early American politics encouraged risky diplomatic schemes disguised as scientific exploration, showing the uncertainty and possibilities of the young republic. MORE INFO
