Chapter 46

This chapter consists entirely of endnotes and bibliographic references for an earlier chapter of the biography, providing sources for Franklin's diplomatic work in France, his social life in Paris, and the discovery of British spy Edward Bancroft's espionage activities.

These endnotes document Franklin's time as a diplomat in France during the American Revolution. They cite sources regarding his social popularity in Paris, including references to books, memoirs, and a 1964 musical about his life there. The notes extensively reference Franklin's diplomatic correspondence with French officials, particularly the Comte de Vergennes, and his efforts to secure French support for the American cause. Significantly, the endnotes reveal the discovery that Edward Bancroft, a trusted member of Franklin's diplomatic circle, was a British spy who encoded secret intelligence and shared sensitive information with London while simultaneously engaging in stock speculation. The notes also document Franklin's recruitment of foreign officers for the American cause, his satirical writings, and debates among historians about whether the American victory at Saratoga or French naval readiness was the decisive factor in France's entry into the war. The endnotes cite primary documents from archives in London, Yale, and Connecticut, as well as secondary historical works on Franklin's diplomacy and the American Revolution.