GENET, or GENEST, zhene, Edmond Charles Edouard, French diplomat : b. Ver sailles, France, 8 Jan. 1765; d. Schodacic, N. Y., 14 July 1834. As his father was the chief of the Bureau of Correspondence of the Depart ment of Foreign Affairs, young Genet was early thrown into contact with many foreigners and developed a fondness and talent for foreign languages. In 1777 he translated into French a Swedish history of King Eric XIV of Sweden. In 1789-92, was French chargé d'affaires at Saint Petersburg and from 1793-94, when he was recalled at Washington's request because of attempts to compel the United States to a war with England, was French Minister to the United States. During these years he had had a very wide experience in diplomatic life. He had been attached to the French embassies at Berlin and • Vienna, had succeeded to his father's office in the Department of Foreign Affairs; and had been secretary to the French Embassy at Saint Petersburg. On the out break of the Revolution he had become an ac tive member of the Girondists; had been sent as Ambassador to Holland and from there as Minister to the United States with instructions to attempt to induce the latter country to de clare war against Great Britain. He was also
commissioned to fit out privateers in American ports. Encouraged by the warm reception he received on his arrival in the United States he set about his work which included expeditions against Florida, Louisiana and New Orleans, then Spanish possessions. Jefferson warned him that America was neutral in the war and that he must cease his unneutral acts. But he went on with his work, of equipping privateers, which were aided by two French privates. These captured some 50 British vessels and brought them to American ports. The United States government forced his recall. In the meantime the Girondists had got into trouble in France, so Genet remained in the United States, where he became an American citizen and married the daughter of Gen. George Clinton. Consult Genet, and the Federal Government> (New York 1793) ; Turner, Projected Attack on Louisiana and the Floridas> (in American Historical Review, Vol. III, New York 1898) ; of France Toward the Mississippi Valley' (in American Historical Re view, Vol. X, New York 1905).