Franklin: The Unexpected Consequences Of Chaumont’s Help In The American Revolution

One of the most influential members of Benjamin Franklin’s inner circle in Franklin is the La Rey de Chaumont, but his support of America wound up yielding significant consequences for France and for him personally. The character of Chaumont in Franklin is played by Olivier Claverie, and he acts as one of Benjamin Franklin’s primary allies in France during his time in Paris. Although a French aristocrat, Chaumont believed in the freedom that the Americans were fighting for, and truly put his money where his mouth was during the early days of the Revolution.

Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont believed in equality for all men, and dedicated a significant amount of his personal wealth to provide weapons and supplies for the woefully outgunned Continental Army. Along with men like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and the Marquis de Lafayatte, Chaumont was one of the most important figures who helped secure French aid to the United States in the late 1770s and early 1780s. Chaumont himself played a large role in convincing King Louis XVI to send more French aid to America, having previously served in his court. Unfortunately, Chaumont’s assistance had major repercussions for France.

Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont Went Bankrupt & Lost His Home Because Of His Contributions

While he was a great help to the American Revolution, it cost him everything.

Early in the American Revolution, King Louis XVI did not publicly support the colonies’ rebellion. Though he wanted to see his enemies, the British, weakened by the revolution, he knew that his support could encourage revolution in France’s own colonies. Therefore, La Rey de Chaumont acted as an intermediary between American emissaries like Benjamin Franklin and the king himself. Chaumont convinced the king and the French government to support America, resulting in a significant amount of French resources being dedicated to the cause.

While Chaumont’s support was pivotal in keeping the inexperienced American forces in the war for the first few years, it came at great personal cost. Chaumont sent thousands of dollars to the American cause with the knowledge that the fledgling nation would not be able to cover the cost, or at least not quickly. He also provided Benjamin Franklin with a mansion, as seen in Franklin. As a result of his generosity, Chaumont found himself bankrupt in a few years, and with his personal finances in shambles, his chateau at Chaumont-sur-Loire was seized by the French Revolutionary government in 1789.

Le Ray de Chaumont Inadvertently Helped Lead France Into Its Own Revolution

Chaumont’s influence during the American Revolution set the financial stage.

Unfortunately for Chaumont, his intervention in the American Revolution directly resulted in the beginning of the French Revolution, during which he lost everything. With so much money dedicated to supporting the United States against the British, the French government accrued massive debts, and ultimately went bankrupt itself. Following an economic recession in 1785 followed by a drought-induced famine in 1788, there was no money left for the government to help support its citizenry. As a result, the French Revolution was born into a bloody and explosive existence.

While Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont can not be personally blamed for the French Revolution, there is a clear thread between his political and financial maneuvers during the years that Benjamin Franklin was in France and the beginning of the conflict that changed the French political landscape. Chaumont’s work in the name of freedom and equality was certainly well-intentioned, but it came at a great personal cost. The nervousness he shows in Franklin is well-justified, as it’s clear that even then Chaumont knew that his actions would have potentially disastrous consequences.