Thursday, June 13, 2013

Currently, I am trying to figure out a good thesis topic for a masters degree in History.  Obviously, I have the resources...hard to pin point it.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Charles of Hesse-Kassel

Charles of Hesse-Kassel dressing in The Order of The Elephant.  Painter unknown.  18th Century.
Charles of Hesse-Kassel is a crucial figure in the mysterious biography of Count St.Germain.  Supposedly, the Count died at the residence of Charles, but personal items were never found (only general items like a few pieces of clothes, pocket change, etc).  Who was Charles of Hesse-Kassel?

Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel (19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836) was a cadet member of the house of Hesse-Kassel and a Danish general field marshal. Brought up with relatives at the Danish court, he spent most of his life in Denmark, serving as royal governor of the twin duchies of Schleswig-Holstein from 1769 to 1836.

In 1769, Prince Charles of Hesse was appointed royal Governor of the twin duchies of Schleswig and Holstein on behalf of the government of his brother-in-law, King Christian VII of Denmark and Norway.  This is important because he would take arms in the Russo Swedish War in 1788-1790 - fighting in allegiance with Russia and Norway.

Pictures are back

Not quite sure what happened, but for a while all of my pictures were down.  Back on line, back to work.

New addition to the bibliography:
Bricka, C.F. "Carl, Landgreve af Hessen-Kassel, 1744-1836, Generalfeltmarskal"  Danish Biographical Lexicon.  Gyldendalske Bookshops Publishers (F. Hegel & Son): Copenhagen, 1889.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

New Reading Material

If you check out the bibliography, you will find three new pieces of reading material.


 
 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ben Franklin Connection



Found this letter at Benjamin Franklin Papers

From — St. Germain
ALS: American Philosophical Society
[c. June, 1778?]
Monsieur

Le Sieur de St. Germain qui a eu l’honneur de se rendre a passy le mois de nouvambre dernier pour reclamer vôtre protection au sujet d’une succession asses considerable qu’un de ses parans luy à laissée á La new York nouvelle anglettere, vous avés eu la bonté de luy dire, que cette ville estoient maintenant au pouvoir des anglais. Il a suivy l’avis que vous luy avés donné de reclamer la protection de Mr. le Marquis de Noailles allors ambassadeur á Londres á qui Il á envoyé un memoire pour le prier de luy obtenir un ordre du ministre d’anglettere pour leur gouverneur á la New York pour forcer le Sieur pintard chargé de sa procuration pour retirer soixante mille Livres qui Etoient au pouvoir de Messrs. Samson pere et fils executeurs testamantaires du parant du suppliant. Soit que Mr. le Marquis en est [ait] fait les diligences auprés du ministre d’anglettere, il n’en á eu aucun succéz, ce qui fait qu’il reclame encore vôtre protection, dans l’espoir ou il est que la new York reviendrá au pouvoir des americains, pour faire obliger le d. Sieur Pintard á luy Payér les dittes soixante mille livres qu’il doit avoir retiré en vertu de sa procuration des dits Sieurs samson pere et fils. Le suppliant forme chaque Jour des voeux pour vôtre conservation et qu’il plaise au Seigneur diriger vos Justes Entreprises.

de St. Germain
Endorsed: St. Germain about Effects at N York





In English this letter's LITERAL TRANSLATION: 

You will find that this literal translation comes across as poor English. Literal translations are often this way. Look below for the actual meaning.

Mr. de St. Germain who had the honor to make a stop in November last month of yours in order to claim protection in respect of a considerable estate access that its parents left him to New York in New England, with you kindly tell him that the city now wise of the power of English. He followed the advice you gave him with claim the protection of the Marquis de Noailles Mr. Ambassador then of London.  He who sent a memorandum to beg him to get an order of the Minister of England their governor á New York to force the Mr Pintard responsible for his attorney to withdraw sixty thousand books which were in the hands of Messrs. Samson father and son testaments executors of adorning the suppliant. Either Mr. Marquis is [was] due diligences to the Minister of England, there was no success in á, which makes it even reclaim your protection, in the hope that he or new York will return to American power, to compel d. Mr. Pintard a liability him pay sixty thousand pounds that must be removed under power of attorney of the said Mr Samson father and son. Begging him every day as your wishes for conservation and it pleases the Lord direct your righteous Company.


In English this letter's ACTUAL MEANING:
This is a rough translation, but you'll get the idea.

Mr. de St. Germain, who had the honor to visit in November last month, made an insurance claim in respect of a considerable estate that his family left him in New York in New England, thanks to the fact that you told him that New York had caught up to England. He followed the advice you gave him about the insurance with the Marquis de Noailles, then Ambassador of London.  He sent a memorandum to beg him to get an order from the Minister of England to force Mr. Pintard, his attorney, to withdraw sixty thousand pounds which were in the hands of the Samsons, father and son, testifying executors of adorning the solicitor.  The Marquis’ due diligence to the Minister of England was unsuccessful which makes it even more important to claim insurance in the hope that his power or American power will compel Mr. Pintard to pay sixty thousand pounds, under liability, or that it must be recovered under power of attorney of the said Samsons (father and son).  Talking to him every day, as you instructed, until he folds. 


 


Basically what this letter is saying is that the Count asked Ben Franklin for some advice about getting some insurance on some estate money that was left to him.  The question is, which Count de St. Germain asked this?